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Ferritin

Ferritin Level

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB5047, Beaker: FER, Antrim: 17227

Department

Chemistry

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect: One Gold-top SST tube. (Minimum Whole Blood: 4.0 mL)

Contact the Laboratory for acceptability of other tube types.

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes then immediately centrifuge to separate serum from cells. Refrigerate (2-8°C or 36-46°F) the centrifuged SST tube within two hours of collection. (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Centrifuged SST tube, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). (Minimum: 1.0 mL)

Rejection Criteria

Grossly hemolyzed specimens.

Red-top tubes with serum not separated from cells within two hours of collection.

In-Lab Processing

Let SST specimens clot 30-60 minutes. Centrifuge SST tubes or Microtainers^® to separate serum from cells. Deliver immediately to the appropriate testing station.

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Centrifuged SST Tubes and Microtainers^® with Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Red-top Tubes and Microtainers^® without Separator Gel
Room Temperature (20-25°C or 68-77°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Unacceptable
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Unacceptable

Serum Specimens (Pour-Overs)
Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): 2-4 hours
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): 7 days

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): 7 days

Laboratory

Dearborn Chemistry Laboratory
Farmington Hills Chemistry Laboratory
Grosse Pointe Chemistry Laboratory
Royal Oak Automated Chemistry Laboratory
Troy Chemistry Laboratory

Performed

Sunday – Saturday, 24 hours a day.
Results available within 24 hours of receipt in the Laboratory.

Reference Range

Male: 14-338 ng/mL.
Female: 12-207 ng/mL.

Test Methodology

Chemiluminescence Immunoassay.

Interpretation

• Ferritin is found in serum in low concentrations and is directly proportional to the body's iron stores.
• The ferritin level is depressed in iron deficiency anemia.
• Serum ferritin value is elevated in the presence of the following conditions: inflammation, significant tissue destruction, malignancies such as acute leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, therapy with iron supplements, primary hemochromatosis and secondary iron overload.
• Heterophilic antibodies in human serum can react with reagent immunoglobulins thus interfering with in vitro immunoassays. Patients routinely exposed to animals or to animal serum products can be prone to this interference and anomalous high values can be observed.

Clinical Utility

Serum ferritin concentration, when analyzed with other factors such as serum iron, iron-binding capacity, and tissue iron stores, is valuable in the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia, anemia of chronic disease, and conditions such as thalassemia major and hemochromatosis that are associated with iron overload. Measurement of serum ferritin is particularly valuable in distinguishing iron-deficiency anemia caused by low iron stores from those resulting from inadequate iron utilization.

CPT Codes

82728
LOINC: 2276-4

Contacts

Last Updated

10/7/2023