Folate testing a review of the diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, cost-effectiveness, and guidelines

Reductions in folate testing have been proposed on the basis of low levels of deficiency in fortified populations. The very low deficiency rate in Canada signals that reconsideration of the necessity of folate testing nationwide may be required, particularly in populations that could potentially ben...

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Bibliographic Details
Corporate Author: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
Format: eBook
Language:English
Published: [Ottawa] Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health 2015, 23 July 2015
Series:Rapid response report: summary with critical appraisal
Online Access:
Collection: National Center for Biotechnology Information - Collection details see MPG.ReNa
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260 |a [Ottawa]  |b Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health  |c 2015, 23 July 2015 
300 |a 1 PDF file (37 pages)  |b illustrations 
505 0 |a Includes bibliographical references 
710 2 |a Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health 
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520 |a Reductions in folate testing have been proposed on the basis of low levels of deficiency in fortified populations. The very low deficiency rate in Canada signals that reconsideration of the necessity of folate testing nationwide may be required, particularly in populations that could potentially benefit from targeted supplementation. Supplementation has not been linked to any adverse side-effects apart from potentially masking underlying vitamin B12 deficiency, and possible central nervous system and gastrointestinal side effects at 15 times the current tolerable upper limit of 1000 micrograms; however, the potential harms of foregoing testing for supplementation are unknown. The direct cost of folate testing is substantially higher than supplementation, although no formal cost-effectiveness analyses have been conducted. As well, the clinical utility of folate testing is unclear. This review will address lack of clarity surrounding the clinical utility and resource implications of folate testing, as well as the uncertainty regarding the appropriate analytical methods and clinical indications for routine folate testing