Why it is important to test for Folic acid (Floate)?

WHAT is Folic Acid (Folate)?

If you are pregnant, your doctor has likely suggested that you take Folic Acid pills. But do you know why? Folic Acid is a type of vitamin, also known as vitamin B9.

Folic Acid is used to:

· Make and repair DNA

· Prevent birth defects of the spinal cord and brain (neural tube defects)

· Produce red blood cells

(Reference: Uclahealth, 2021)

WHY do we need to test for Folic Acid?

According to the CDC, the majority of women should consume 400 micrograms (mcg) of Folic Acid daily, either through their regular diet or a separate supplement, prior to conception. Throughout pregnancy, the recommended intake increases to 600 mcg, while during breastfeeding, it is advised to aim for 500 mcg.

Folic Acid deficiency is closely related to megaloblastic anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, cerebrovascular disease, and fetal neural tube defects. Especially for patients with H-type hypertension, standardized treatment medication supplemented with Folic Acid supplementation has a significant effect.

However, having too much Folic Acid could also have side effects, such as increasing the risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women, leading to a higher risk of metabolic abnormalities in their offspring; masking the early manifestations of vitamin B12 deficiency, etc.

Knowing the level of Folic Acid in the body is clinically important for rational supplementation of Folic Acid and reducing the occurrence of the above diseases.

WHY choose us?

Dry Micro Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Analyzer:

C5000

New era of POCT CLIA analyzer

Features:

· Time to results: 5~15 mins

· Loading capacity: 7 tests at one time

· Sample types: Whole blood, Serum, Plasma, etc.

· Principle: CERT Homogeneous CLIA

· Dimensions: 325*231*213 mm

· Communication: LIS/HIS/5G transmission