Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 6 days at 15-25 ^o C
• 15 days at 2-8 ^o C
• 13 weeks at -20 ^o C (Freeze only once)

3.5 mL SST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Plain Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Microsample Blood

5 mL PST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: mg/L

Male : 2.2 - 5.0

Female : 1.9 - 4.4

Uncertainty of Measurement: 0.3mg/L at level of < 2.0 mg/L

4% at level of 5 mg/L and higher

Turnaround Time: Within 2 days
Assay Method

Principle: Tinaquant

Assay: Roche

Analyser: Roche c502

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

1. Iron Deficiency:

The soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentration is increased in iron deficiency. The developing red cells regulate their iron uptake by increasing the number of transferrin receptors on their surface, and the number of sTfR in serum increases in parallel.

2. Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD)

sTfR measurement may be useful for differentiating anaemia caused by iron deficiency from ACD.

ACD can be found in inflammatory conditions including infection, autoimmune disorders and cancer. The pathogenesis of ACD is complex. ACD may be associated with normal sTfR levels. However, a functional Fe deficiency may develop due to failure to release iron from stores, accompanied by increased STfR levels.

It has been suggested that a trial of iron supplementation therapy could be considered in ACD patients if the sTfR level is raised (ref 1).

3. Other Conditions:

An increase in sTfR may be found in conditions where there is ineffective erythropoiesis, such as myelodysplastic syndromes, or in any condition where there is an increase in erythropoietic activity. This is due to an increase in erythropoietic progenitor cells, which have a high concentration of cell surface transferrin receptors.

The increase is usually minimal when associated with thalassaemia, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, hereditary spherocytosis, sickle cell anaemia (with associated hypersplenism), megaloblastic anaemia, or secondary polycythaemia, but may be up to twice normal concentration in myeloproliferative disorders. These conditions are identifiable by using other haematological tests.

Conversely, sTfR concentration may decrease in aplastic anaemia, or any other condition where erythropoietic activity is reduced.

References

Chang J, Bird R, Clague A, Carter A. Clinical utility of serum soluble transferrin receptor levels and comparison with bone marrow iron stores as an index for iron-deficient erythropoiesis in a heterogeneous group of patients. Pathology. 2007;39:349-353

Contact Information

The chemical pathology team can be reached via email: chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz or via Lablink (09) 307 4949 ext 22000 or 09-3078995

Emails will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist. Include the patients NHI.

After-hours: contact Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995) or hospital operator for on duty staff after hours .

• Dr Samarina Musaad (Clinical Lead) : SamarinaM@adhb.govt.nz ext. 22402
• Dr Cam Kyle : CampbellK@adhb.govt.nz ext 22052
• Dr Weldon Chiu : WeldonC@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Campbell Heron : CHeron@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427
• Dr Sakunthala Jayasinghe Saku.Jayasinghe@adhb.govt.nz
• Dr Owen Yi WenyiYi@adhb.govt.nz

Specimen Transport Instructions for Referring Laboratories

Send either separated SST tube, or at least 300uL serum/plasma. Transport at 4 ^o C.

Last updated at 11:42:03 16/01/2026