Laboratory Lab results are too important to go anywhere else.

Iron, Liver Tissue

Test Codes

EPIC: LAB3, Beaker: XFELT, MAYO: FET

Department

Send Outs

Instructions

• Contact the Laboratory at 248-551-9045 or 800-551-0488 prior to specimen procurement.
• Suspected diagnosis and relevant clinical information must be included with the specimen.

Specimen Collection Criteria

Collect (preferred specimen): Liver tissue in a Mayo Medical Laboratories metal-free specimen vial. (Minimum: 2.0 mg)

• Typically, a piece of tissue from a 22-gauge needle biopsy at least 2.0 cm long.
• If an 18-gauge needle is used, the tissue must be at least 1.0 cm in length. The 18-gauge needle produces a specimen that is thin and fragile and difficult to remove from paraffin.

Also acceptable: Liver tissue in a paraffin block.

• Any specimen vial used other than a Mayo metal-free vial should be plastic, leached with 10% nitric acid for 48 hours, rinsed with redistilled water, and dried in clean air.
• The following table provides the minimum specimen size requirements for tissue analysis.

Type of Biopsy	Minimum Specimen Size
22 gauge needle	0.3 x 10-20 mm (about 2.0 cm in length)
18 gauge needle	1.0 x 5-10 mm (about 1.0 cm in length)
Wedge biopsy	10 mg

Physician Office/Draw Specimen Preparation

Maintain specimen in an appropriate container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F), prior to transport.

Preparation for Courier Transport

Transport: Tissue specimen in a Mayo Medical Laboratories metal-free vial, or other appropriate container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F).

Rejection Criteria

Specimens not collected and processed as indicated.

In-Lab Processing

Maintain specimen in an appropriate container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F), prior to transport.

Transport: Tissue specimen in a Mayo Medical Laboratories metal-free vial, or other appropriate container, refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F). 

Storage

Specimen Stability for Testing:

Room Temperature (20-26°C or 68-78.8°F): Indefinite
Refrigerated (2-8°C or 36-46°F): Indefinite
Frozen (-20°C/-4°F or below): Indefinite

Specimen Storage in Department Prior to Disposal:

Specimen retention time is determined by the policy of the reference laboratory. Contact the Send Outs Laboratory with any questions.

Laboratory

Sent to Mayo Medical Laboratories, Rochester, MN.

Performed

Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Results available in 3-6 days.

Reference Range

Iron:
Males: 200-2,400 mcg/g dry weight.
Females: 200-1,800 mcg/g dry weight.

Iron Index:
Less than 1.0 mcmol/g/year. Reference values have not been established for patients that are under 13 years old.

Test Methodology

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Interpretation

By report.

Clinical Utility

This assay aids in the diagnosis of hemochromatosis.

CPT Codes

83540

Contacts

Last Updated

7/21/2024