title: Erythrocyte folate extraction and quantitative determination by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry: comparison of results with microbiologic assay.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erythrocyte folate analysis is an important diagnostic tool to establish folate status or screen for folate deficiency.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated conditions that influence the complete hemolysis and deconjugation of folate polyglutamates to folate monoglutamates (FMGs) from whole blood (WB). WB samples were hemolyzed in 10 g/L ascorbic acid at various temperatures (room temperature, 30 degrees C, and 37 degrees C; n = 15) or hemolysate pH values (pH 4.0, 4.7, 5.2; n = 11) and incubated up to 6 h. FMGs and folate diglutamates (FDGs) were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) and total folate (TF) by microbiologic assay. We investigated delaying hemolysis by freezing WB for 10 days (n = 20).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemolysates frozen immediately after preparation contained 22%-27% FDGs, depending on hemolysate pH. The proportion of FDGs decreased to <3% after incubation at pH 4.7/37 degrees C for 3 h and did not significantly change on extended incubation up to 5 h. Short-term delayed hemolysis of WB produced results indistinguishable from those of immediate hemolysis. TF results obtained by the microbiologic assay were not different across incubation conditions and agreed with the sum of FMGs and FDGs by LC/MS/MS. The difference between the 2 methods was an insignificant 3% for pH 4.7/37 degrees C for 3 h.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemolysate incubation up to 2 h at 37 degrees C is not adequate for full polyglutamate deconjugation. We obtained the highest yield of FMGs with lowest FDG concentrations at pH 4.7/37 degrees C for 3 h. Delaying hemolysis of WB for several days had no negative effect on measurable folate for presumed MTHFR C/C genotype samples.
authors.affiliation: Inorganic Toxicology and Nutrition Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Zia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fazili
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D002457:Cell Extracts; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei / Q000502:physiology*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002457:Cell Extracts; D011099:Polyglutamic Acid; D005492:Folic Acid