Test Catalog

Test Id : FEC

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Iron and Total Iron-Binding Capacity, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Screening for chronic iron overload diseases, particularly hereditary hemochromatosis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Immunoturbidimetric Assay

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Iron and Total Fe Binding Cap, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Iron (Fe)

Iron (Serum Iron and TIBC) Routine

Iron Binding Capacity (Routine)

Latent Iron Binding Capacity

Transferrin Saturation, Serum

Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Necessary Information

Patient's age and sex are required.

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Patient Preparation:

1. Fasting (12 hours)

2. Iron-containing supplements should be avoided for 24 hours prior to draw.

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Draw blood before 12 noon (preferred).

2. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.

3. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and aliquoted within 2 hours of collection.

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Benign Hematology Test Request Form (T755) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the Testing Laboratory

0.5 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
Frozen 180 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Screening for chronic iron overload diseases, particularly hereditary hemochromatosis

Testing Algorithm
Delineates situations when tests are added to the initial order. This includes reflex and additional tests.

See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Ingested iron is absorbed primarily from the intestinal tract and is temporarily stored in the mucosal cells as ferritin (Fe[III]). Ferritin provides a soluble protein shell to encapsulate a complex of insoluble ferric hydroxide-ferric phosphate. On demand, iron is released into the blood by mechanisms that are not clearly understood, to be transported as Fe(III)-transferrin.

 

Transferrin is the primary plasma iron transport protein, which binds iron strongly at physiological pH. Transferrin is generally only 25% to 30% saturated with iron. The additional amount of iron that can be bound is the unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC). The total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) can be indirectly determined using the sum of the serum iron and UIBC. Knowing the molecular weight of the transferrin and that each molecule of transferrin can bind 2 atoms of iron, TIBC and transferrin concentration is interconvertible.

 

Percent saturation (100 x serum iron/TIBC) is usually normal or decreased in persons who are iron deficient, pregnant, or are taking oral contraceptive medications. Persons with chronic inflammatory processes, hemochromatosis, or malignancies generally display low transferrin.

 

Serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and percent saturation are widely used for the diagnosis of iron deficiency. However, serum ferritin is a much more sensitive and reliable test for demonstration of iron deficiency.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

IRON

Males: 50-150 mcg/dL

Females: 35-145 mcg/dL

 

TOTAL BINDING CAPACITY

250-400 mcg/dL

 

PERCENT SATURATION

14-50%

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

In hereditary hemochromatosis, serum iron is usually above 150 mcg/dL and percent saturation is above 60%. In advanced iron overload states, the percent saturation often is above 90%.

 

For more information about hereditary hemochromatosis testing, see Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

Measurement of serum iron, iron-binding capacity, and percent saturation should not be used as a test for iron deficiency. It is often unreliable for this purpose.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company. 1999

2. Fairbanks VF, Baldus WP: Iron overload. In Hematology. Fourth edition. Edited by WJ Williams, AJ Erslev, MA Lichtman. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1990, pp 482-505

Special Instructions
Library of PDFs including pertinent information and forms related to the test

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Under acidic conditions, iron is liberated from transferrin. Lipemic samples are clarified by the detergent. Ascorbate reduces the released Fe(3+) ions to Fe(2+) ions which then react with FerroZine to form a colored complex. The color intensity is directly proportional to the iron concentration and can be measured photometrically.(Package insert: Roche Fe reagent. Indianapolis, IN, 2010)

                                          

Anti-transferrin antibodies react with the antigen in the sample to form an antigen/antibody complex. Following agglutination, this is measured turbidimetrically. Addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) allows the reaction to progress rapidly to the end point and increases sensitivity.(Package insert: Roche TRSF2 reagent. Indianapolis, IN, 2005)

 

Calculations:

TIBC = (Transferrin x 1.18)

% Saturation = Iron/TIBC x 100

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Saturday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 2 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

7 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their Regional Manager. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

83540-Iron

83550-Iron-binding capacity

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
FEC Iron and Total Fe Binding Cap, S 50190-8
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
IRON Iron 2498-4
TIBC Total Iron Binding Capacity 2500-7
SAT Percent Saturation 2502-3

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports