Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Iron
Iron
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
| Test | Iron |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | Fe |
| Profile | Iron Studies/ Transferrin saturation |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin |
| Clinical Indication | Serum iron concentration is decreased in many but not all patients with iron deficiency anaemia; in acute or chronic inflammatory disorders such as acute infection, myocardial infarction, haemorrhage and late pregnancy. Serum iron concentration diminishes in patients who are beginning to respond to therapy for other anaemias, for example treatment of pernicious anaemia with Vitamin B12. Greater than normal concentrations occur in iron overload disorders such as haemochromatosis and in acute iron poisoning following oral or parenteral iron administration. Iron levels may also be increased in hepatitis, lead poisoning, acute leukaemia, thalassaemia or oral contraception. |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum or plasma |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | Fasting sample preferred if iron overload is suspected. |
| Stability | 3 weeks at 2-8?C or 7 days at 15-25?C |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | 5.8-34.5 umol/L - New range as of 03/04/18 (Quoted by the manufacturer) |
| Limitations | No interference was observed from IgG ? 3.3 g/dL; IgA ? 0.5 g/dL; IgM ? 1.0 g/dL |
| Notes |
