Aiding in the diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron overload conditions
Differentiating iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease
See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.
Immunoenzymatic Assay
Ferritin, Serum
See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.
Serum
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Serum gel tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
2. Red-top tubes should be centrifuged and the serum aliquoted into a plastic vial within 2 hours of collection.
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Benign Hematology Test Request Form (T755) with the specimen.
0.5 mL
Gross hemolysis | Reject |
Gross lipemia | OK |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 90 days |
Aiding in the diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron overload conditions
Differentiating iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease
See Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.
Ferritin is a large spherical protein consisting of 24 noncovalently linked subunits with a molecular weight of approximately 450,000 D. The subunits form a shell surrounding a central core containing variable amounts of ferric hydroxyphosphate. One molecule of ferritin is capable of binding between 4000 and 5000 atoms of iron, making ferritin the major iron storage protein for the body.
Ferritin is found chiefly in the cytoplasm of cells of the reticuloendothelial system and is a constituent of normal human serum. The concentration of ferritin is directly proportional to the total iron stores in the body, resulting in serum ferritin concentrations becoming a common diagnostic tool in the evaluation of iron status.
In most normal adults, serum ferritin concentrations vary with age and sex. There is a sharp rise in serum ferritin concentrations in the first month of life, coinciding with the depression of bone marrow erythropoiesis. Within 2 or 3 months, erythropoiesis becomes reactivated and there is a drop in the concentration of serum ferritin. By 6 months, the concentration is reduced to fairly low levels where they remain throughout childhood. There is no sex difference until the onset of puberty, at which time ferritin concentrations rise, particularly in males. There is a significant positive correlation between age and serum ferritin concentrations in females, but not in males.
Patients with iron deficiency anemia have serum ferritin concentration approximately one-tenth of normal subjects, while patients with iron overload (hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis) have serum ferritin concentrations much higher than normal. Studies also suggest that serum ferritin provides a sensitive means of detecting iron deficiency at an early stage. Serum ferritin concentrations may serve as a tool to monitor the effects of iron therapy, but results should be interpreted with caution, as these cases may not always reflect the true state of iron stores. Ferritin is a positive acute phase reactant in both adults and children, whereby chronic inflammation results in a disproportionate increase in ferritin in relation to iron reserves. Elevated ferritin is also observed in acute and chronic liver disease, chronic renal failure, and in some types of neoplastic disease.
Evaluating body iron stores may include serum iron determination, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and percent saturation of transferrin, however are subject to diurnal variations and may be less precise. Additionally, they do not discriminate between depleted iron stores (iron deficiency) and conditions associated with defective iron release (eg, anemia of chronic disease).
Males: 24-336 mcg/L
Females: 11-307 mcg/L
Hypoferritinemia is associated with increased risk for developing iron deficiency where iron deficiency is sufficient to reduce erythropoiesis causing hemoglobin concentrations to fall. Latent iron deficiency occurs when serum ferritin is low without low hemoglobin.
Hyperferritinemia is associated with iron overload conditions including hereditary hemochromatosis where concentrations may exceed 1000 mcg/L. Non-iron overload hyperferritinemia may be caused by common liver disorders, neoplasms, acute or chronic inflammation, and hereditary hyperferritinemia-cataract syndrome.
For more information about hereditary hemochromatosis testing, see Hereditary Hemochromatosis Algorithm in Special Instructions.
Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and may be elevated in patients with inflammation, liver disease, chronic infection, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy.
Ferritin may be elevated in excess iron storage disorders besides hemochromatosis including hemolytic anemia, sideroblastic anemia, and in those with multiple blood transfusions.
Race and ethnicity factors (especially in Native Africans, African Americans, and Asians) are also associated with higher mean concentrations of serum ferritin than are typical of whites, the basis of which is incompletely understood.
1. McPherson RA, Pincus MR eds: Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2007:506
2. Cappellinin MD, Lo SF, Swickels DW: Hemoglobin, iron, bilirubin. In: Rafai N, Horvath AR, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. 6th ed. Elsevier Saunders; 2018:719-775
The Access Ferritin assay is a 2-site immunoenzymatic ("sandwich") assay. A sample is added to a reaction vessel with goat anti-ferritin alkaline phosphatase conjugate, and paramagnetic particles coated with goat anti-mouse: mouse anti-ferritin complexes. Serum or plasma (heparin) ferritin binds to the immobilized monoclonal anti-ferritin on the solid phase, while the goat anti-ferritin enzyme conjugate reacts with different antigenic sites on the ferritin molecules. After incubation in a reaction vessel, materials bound to the solid phase are held in a magnetic field while unbound materials are washed away. Then, the chemiluminescent substrate Lumi-Phos* 530 is added to the vessel and light generated by the reaction is measured with a luminometer. The light production is directly proportional to the concentration of ferritin in the sample. The amount of analyte in the sample is determined from a stored, multipoint calibration curve.(Package insert: DxI Reagent. Beckman Coulter Inc;11/2019)
Monday through Sunday
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.
82728
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
FERR | Ferritin, S | 20567-4 |
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.
|
---|---|---|
FERR | Ferritin, S | 20567-4 |