Pathology

Test & Collection Guide

New search...

Ferritin

Ordering information:

Can be requested as sole test for iron store interrogation.

Laboratory:

Biochemistry

Test Code:

FER

Specimen types:

Serum

Container types:

Serum tube with gel

Collection Instructions:

Transport specimen at Room Temperature to lab
Sample haemolysis may make this test unreportable

Minimum Adult Volume:

1 mL

Paediatric Minimum Volume:

0.5 mL

Frequency:

Daily

Result Turnaround Time:

5 hours

Reference Interval:

Male

30 - 400 ug/L

Female:16 - 50 years

> 50 years

30 - 150 ug/L

30 - 400 ug/L

Age	Reference Range
< 1 month	150 - 450 ug/L
1 - 3 months	80 - 500 ug/L
3 months - 16 years	20 - 200 ug/L

Interpretation:

Untreated haemochromatosis/ HLH	> 1000 ug/L
Iron deficiency, Male	< 30 ug/L
Iron deficiency, Female	< 30 ug/L

For Ferritin 30 -100, sugest adding on CRP, as Ferritin rises in acute and chronic inflammatory reactions, and may be falsely normal. If Ferritin >100, then iron deficiency is unlikely, regardless of inflammatory state.

Ferritin is an unreliable indicator of iron stores for 4-5 weeks after an iron infusion.

Serum Ferritin does not always reflect the state of body iron stores.

In a number of conditions ferritin levels may be elevated independently of the patient's iron stores and confuse interpretations.

It is also present in hepatocytes and may be elevated in hepatocellular damage. An assessment of iron deficiency or overload using serum ferritin is difficult in these circumstances.

Laboratory Use Only

Storage Instructions:

Most patients have a low serum iron for a few weeks after major surgery, even though ferritin is frequently raised. Assessment of iron stores should occur after convalescence.