Framework for laboratory harmonization of folate measurements in low- and middle-income countries and regions

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Volumn 1414, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 96-108

  Pfeiffer, Christine M ^a   Zhang, Mindy ^a   Jabbar, Shameem ^a  

^a NATIONAL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH   (United States)

Author keywords

5 methyltetrahydrofolate; cutoff value; folic acid; microbiologic assay; red blood cell folate; serum folate

Indexed keywords

FOLIC ACID;

ERYTHROCYTE; FOLIC ACID BLOOD LEVEL; HUMAN; LABORATORY; LOW INCOME COUNTRY; MICROBIOLOGY; MIDDLE INCOME COUNTRY; REVIEW;

EID: 85041107509     PISSN: 00778923     EISSN: 17496632     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13532     Document Type: Review

References (24)

1. Bailey, L.B., P.J. Stover, H. McNulty, et al. 2015. Biomarkers of nutrition for development—folate review. J. Nutr. 145: 1636S–1680S.
2. World Health Organization. 2015. Serum and red blood cell folate concentrations for assessing folate status in populations. Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System. Geneva: World Health Organization.
3. Pfeiffer, C.M., D.A. Lacher, R.L. Schleicher, et al. 2017. Challenges and lessons learned in generating and interpreting NHANES nutritional biomarker data. Adv. Nutr. 8: 290–307.
4. Gunter, E.W., B.A. Bowman, S.P. Caudill, et al. 1996. Results of an international round robin for serum and whole-blood folate. Clin. Chem. 42: 1689–1694.
5. Pfeiffer, C.M., E.W. Gunter & S.P. Caudill. 2001. Comparison of serum and whole blood folate measurements in 12 laboratories: an international study [abstract]. Clin. Chem. 47: A62.
6. Pfeiffer, C.M., M.R. Sternberg, H.C. Hamner, et al. 2016. Applying inappropriate cutoffs leads to misinterpretation of folate status in the US population. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 104: 1607–1615.
7. Pfeiffer, C.M., Z. Fazili & M. Zhang. 2010. Folate analytical methodology. In Folate in Health and Disease. L.B. Bailey, Ed.: 517–574. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
8. Drammeh, B.S., R.L. Schleicher, C.M. Pfeiffer, et al. 2008. Effects of delayed sample processing and freezing on serum concentrations of selected nutritional indicators. Clin. Chem. 54: 1883–1891.
9. O'Broin, J.D., I.J. Temperley & J.M. Scott. 1980. Erythrocyte, plasma, and serum folate: specimen stability before microbiological assay. Clin. Chem. 26: 522–524.
10. O'Broin, S.D., B.P. Kelleher, A. Davoren, et al. 1997. Field-study screening of blood folate concentrations: specimen stability and finger-stick sampling. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 66: 1398–1405.
11. Fazili, Z., M.R. Sternberg & C.M. Pfeiffer. 2012. Assessing the influence of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism on folate stability during long-term frozen storage, thawing, and repeated freeze/thawing of whole blood. Clin. Chim. Acta 413: 966–972.
12. Kelleher, B. & S. O'Broin. 1996. Choice of materials for long-term quality control of blood folate assays. Clin. Chem. 42: 652–654.
13. O'Broin, S.D. & E.W. Gunter. 1999. Screening of folate status with use of dried blood spots on filter paper. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 70: 359–367.
14. Haynes, B.M.H., C.M. Pfeiffer, M.R. Sternberg, et al. 2013. Selected physiologic variables are weakly to moderately associated with 29 biomarkers of diet and nutrition, NHANES 2003–2006. J. Nutr. 143(Suppl.): 1001–1010.
15. Pfeiffer, C.M., M. Zhang, D.A. Lacher, et al. 2011. Comparison of serum and red blood cell folate microbiologic assays for national population surveys. J. Nutr. 141: 1402–1409.
16. Bock, J.L., D.B. Endres, R.J. Elin, et al. 2005. Comparison of fresh frozen serum to traditional proficiency testing material in a College of American Pathologists survey for ferritin, folate, and vitamin B12. Arch. Pathol. Lab. Med. 129: 323–327.
17. Blackmore, S., C.M. Pfeiffer, A. Lee, et al. 2011. Isotope dilution–LC-MS/MS reference method assessment of serum folate assay accuracy and proficiency testing consensus mean. Clin. Chem. 57: 986–994.
18. Institute of Medicine. 1998. Dietary reference intakes for thamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. Washington DC: National Academy of Sciences.
19. Selhub, J., P.F. Jacques, G. Dallal, et al. 2008. The use of blood concentrations of vitamins and their respective functional indicators to define folate and vitamin B12 status. Food Nutr. Bull. 29(Suppl.): 67–73.
20. World Health Organization. 2015. Guideline: optimal serum and red blood cell folate concentrations in women of reproductive age for prevention of neural tube defects. Geneva: World Health Organization.
21. Pfeiffer, C.M., J.P. Hughes, R.A. Durazo-Arvizu, et al. 2012. Changes in measurement procedure from a radioassay to a microbiologic assay necessitate adjustment of serum and RBC folate concentrations in the U.S. population from the NHANES 1988–2010. J. Nutr. 142: 894–900.
22. Daly, L.E., P.N. Kirke, A. Molloy, et al. 1995. Folate levels and neural tube defects: implications for prevention. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 274: 1698–1702.
23. Tinker, S.C., H.C. Hamner, Y.P. Qi, et al. 2015. U.S. women of childbearing age who are at possible increased risk of a neural tube defect-affected pregnancy due to suboptimal red blood cell folate concentrations, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 to 2012. Birth Defects Res. A Clin. Mol. Teratol. 103: 517–526.
24. Molloy, A.M. & J.M. Scott. 1997. Microbiological assay for serum, plasma, and red cell folate using cryopreserved, microtiter plate method. Methods Enzymol. 281: 43–53.