Neural Tube Defects Surveillance

What is neural tube defects surveillance? collapsed

What are the different types of neural tube defects surveillance programs? collapsed

How are neural tube defects identified for a surveillance program? collapsed

What is biomarker-based surveillance? collapsed

What are red blood cell (RBC) folate concentrations? collapsed

• Blood folate concentration is the amount of folate that can be measured in the blood (many forms of folate are included in the measure). Folate concentrations can be measured in serum or plasma (the liquid part of blood) or in red blood cells (RBCs), which are the blood cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. By measuring the RBC folate concentrations among women in a population, it is possible to predict the risk within the population of having a pregnancy with a neural tube defect ^{11, 48}.
• In a 2015 guideline, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined the level of RBC folate concentrations in a population that is high enough to help prevent neural tube defects in the population. According to WHO’s definition, at the population level, RBC folate concentrations should be above 400 nanograms per milliliter (906 nanomoles per liter) in women of reproductive age, to achieve the greatest reduction of neural tube defects.
• Folic acid fortification is a public health activity known as an intervention. RBC folate concentrations can be used to find out how effective this intervention is by monitoring how much folic acid is reaching women of reproductive age through staple food fortification programs.
• Governments can use RBC folate concentrations measured in their populations to find out if their folic acid fortification programs are working and to find ways to improve efforts to prevent neural tube defects.

What is a microbiologic assay and how is it done? collapsed