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HelpTest Code FERI Ferritin
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Plasma
Preferred Specimen: Li-Heparin Mint Green Top
Other Acceptable specimens: Gold Top, Red Top, Lavendar K2 Top, Lavendar K3 Top
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
- Collect specimen per standard collection procedure and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection.
- Centrifuge specimens at >2500 x g for 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Aliquot sample into plastic transport tube containing a minimum of 0.2 mL of specimen.
- Samples must be sent room temperature at 20 - 25oC.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted or grossly hemolyzed.
- Specimens that were transported unspun/whole blood and draw time is greater than 6 hours
Reference Values
|
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
|
Ferritin |
All |
Males |
20 - 300 ng/mL |
|
Ferritin |
All |
Females |
10 - 220 ng/mL |
Note: Reference ranges are based on in-house studies performed at the Univeristy of Chicago Medicine by the Clinical Chemistry Laboratories per the Roche cobas 8000 modular analyzer series e 801 System Installation Workbook and the e 801 FERI product insert.
Critical Values
|
Analyte |
Unit |
Low |
High |
Age |
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
CPT Codes
82728
LOINC Codes
2276-4
Volume
Preferred Volume: 0.5 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL
Specimen Stability
|
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
|
Room Temperature |
48 hours |
|
Refrigerated |
7 days |
|
Frozen |
12 months |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures.
Test Components
Ferritin
Clinical Indications
The determination of ferritin is a suitable method for ascertaining the iron metabolism situation. Determination of ferritin at the beginning of therapy provides a representative measure of the body’s iron reserves. A storage deficiency in the reticulo-endothelial system (RES) can be detected at a very early stage.
Methodology
Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) (Roche Diagnostics)
Additional Information
- Results should always be assessed in conjunction with patient's medical history, clinical examination and other findings.
- Clinically, a threshold value of 20 μg/L (ng/mL) has proved useful in the detection of prelatent iron deficiency. This value provides a reliable indication of exhaustion of the iron reserves that can be mobilized for hemoglobin synthesis. Latent iron deficiency is defined as a fall below the 12 μg/L (ng/mL) ferritin threshold. These two values necessitate no further laboratory elucidation, even when the blood picture is still morphologically normal. If te depressed ferritin level is accompanied by hypochromic, microcytal anemia, then manifest iron deficiency is present.
- When the ferritin level is elevated and the possibility of a distribution disorder can be ruled out, this is a manifestation of iron overloading in the body. 400 μg/L (ng/mL) ferritin is used as the threshold value. Elevated ferritin values are also encountered with the following tumors; acute leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and carcinoma of the lung, colon, liver and prostate.
- The determination of ferritin has proved to be of value in liver metastasis.
- In rare cases, interference due to extremely high titers of antibodies to analyte-specific antibodies, streptavidin or ruthenium can occur.
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test
Routine Turnaround Time: up to 4 hours
Testing Schedule: 24/7
Synonyms/Keyword Search
FERR
Last Review Date
1/26/23