Erythrocyte Folate Extraction and Quantitative Determination by Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Comparison of Results with Microbiologic Assay

• Published in: Clinical chemistry (Baltimore, Md.) Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 2318 - 2325
• Main Authors: Fazili, Zia, Pfeiffer, Christine M, Zhang, Ming, Jain, Ram
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC Am Assoc Clin Chem 01.12.2005; American Association for Clinical Chemistry; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry; Biological and medical sciences; Calibration; Cell Extracts; Chromatography, Liquid; Erythrocytes; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Folic Acid - blood; Folic Acid - chemistry; Folic Acid - isolation & purification; Freezing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemolysis; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Lactobacillus casei - physiology; Liquid chromatography; Mass Spectrometry; Medical sciences; Polyglutamic Acid - chemistry; Temperature; Time Factors; Assay; Blood cell; Mass spectrometry MS/MS; Clinical biology; Red blood cell; Biochemistry; Liquid chromatography; Extraction; Molecular biology; Comparative study; Folate; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0009-9147; 1530-8561
• DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2005.053801

Erythrocyte folate analysis is an important diagnostic tool to establish folate status or screen for folate deficiency. 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). 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. 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.