Hi all,
Not that there is very much NICE about dementia, but we recently had a
GP querying our measurement of red cell folate when they are apparently
being assessed on serum levels to fulfill the QOF for dementia
screening. The curious thing is that none of our other GPs have
mentioned this, though it does state that amongst things measured in
patients with new diagnoses for dementia includes "...serum B12 and
folate". Admittedly this does read a little ambiguously, but the GP in
question suggests that the read code required for their stats
corresponds to that for the serum level, though I it's possible they are
mistaken.
We currently offer RBC folate as part of our haematinics panel (as
preferred by our Haematologists), so it would necessitate either a
change to all serum, or maintaining both assays for use in a dementia
screen.
Have any colleagues also encountered this?
Regards and season's greetings,
Iain
Dr Iain Woodrow,
Clinical Biochemist
Department of Clinical Biochemistry,
Pinderfields General Hospital
Wakefield
WF1 4DG
01924 317061 or 317000
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