Adult patient:
Clotted blood tube
(Serum gel separator clot activator tube)
Minimum blood volume: 5 mL
Paediatric patient:
Paediatric clotted blood tube
Number of vials: 2
Minimum blood volume: 1.6 mL
Authorisation code required
No
24 Hr available service
No
Method
Immunoassay
Reference interval
| Male | Female | Source | ||
| Age (Years) | Age (Years) | |||
| < 1 | 27 - 735 pmol/L |
< 1 | 27 - 735 pmol/L |
Manufacturer’s reference interval booklet |
| 1 - 3 | 13 - 151 pmol/L |
1 - 3 | 13 - 151 pmol/L |
|
| 4 - 6 | 9 - 151 pmol/L |
4 - 6 | 9 - 151 pmol/L |
|
| 7 - 12 | 31 - 279 pmol/L |
7 - 12 | 16 - 189 pmol/L |
|
| 13 - 17 | 31 - 342 pmol/L |
13 - 17 | 29 - 153 pmol/L |
|
| > 18 | 67 - 899 pmol/L | > 18 | 29 - 337 pmol/L |
Manufacturer’s kit insert |
(Conversion factor: 1 µg/L = 2.247 pmol/L)
Clinical indication
Investigation of suspected iron deficiency or iron overload
Result interpretation
Levels are considered to reflect bone marrow iron stores.
Decreased levels indicate iron deficiency. Serum ferritin levels of < 67 pmol/L and < 225 pmol/L correspond to < 30 ug/L and < 100 ug/L decision cutoff for the management of iron deficiency in adults, respectively. (N Engl J Med. 2015; 372: 1832 - 1843)
Increased levels occur with iron overload (haemochromatosis and haemosiderosis) but transferrin saturation is a better screening test for these disorders.
Measurement of uncertainty
Frequency of measurement
Daily