Specimen Collection

Sample stability:

• 48 hours at 20-25 ^o C
• 7 days at 2-8 ^o C
• 12 months at -20 ^o C

4.5 mL PST Blood (Preferred)

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-PST Blood (Preferred)

5 mL EDTA Blood

EDTA suitable for ferritin only NOT for iron studies.

5 mL Heparin Blood

4 mL Adult Plain Serum

3.5 mL SST Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-heparin Blood

0.5 mL Paediatric Micro-EDTA Blood
Reference Intervals

Units: ug/L

Ferritin results may vary significantly between laboratories. Patients being serially monitored for iron overload should have ferritin levels measured by the same laboratory.

Uncertainty of Measurement: 6%

Age	Female	Male
0 - 4 months	15 - 400	15 - 400
5 - 11 months	15 - 80	15 - 80
1 - 14 years	15 - 150	15 - 150
15 - 19 years	15 - 170	15 - 170
20 - 30 years	20 - 170	20 - 320 *
30 - 40 years	20 - 190	20 - 400 *
Over 40 years	20 - 380 *	20 - 450 *

* NOTE: The upper normal limit for ferritin increases with age (see above). However, irrespective of age, values > 250 ug/L may be seen in inflammation, early iron overload, or liver disease, and should be accepted as normal only if these disorders have been excluded.

Turnaround Time: Within 3 hours
Assay Method

Principle: Sandwich type immunoassay with chemiluminescence detection

Reagents: Roche FERR kit

Analyser: Cobas e801

Diagnostic Use and Interpretation

Serum ferritin is used as an indicator of the storage pool of iron. Its concentration in serum is approximately proportional to the total body iron stores, but only if the patient is otherwise healthy.

It is most useful for detecting iron deficiency , and a serum ferritin of < 15 ug/L generally indicates iron deficiency in an uncomplicated patient.

Causes for increased ferritin:

• Iron overload
• Inflammation
• Liver disease

Ferritin is an acute phase protein (increases in inflammatory states). In infections, chronic inflammatory disorders, or malignancy the ferritin concentration may be normal, or even increased, even though the patient is iron deficient. It is therefore difficult to make the distinction between iron deficiency anaemia and anaemia of chronic disease, especially if both co-exist in the same patient. Measurement of soluble transferrin receptors may be helpful in this regard.

Ferritin is increased in iron overload; a normal or low ferritin almost certainly excludes iron overload. A high ferritin does not necessarily confirm it, if there is a co-existent inflammatory disorder or liver disease.

Recent iron infusion increase ferritin; usually peaking in the first 7 - 9 days and gradually decreasing over the next 3 months . Repeat iron studies during this period may be clinically confusing.

For IRON STUDIES, please refer to the following link for more information:

Iron Binding capacity (Total)

Iron- liver biopsy

Iron- plasma/serum

Iron Saturation

Soluble Trasnferrin Receptors

Contact Information

Emails to chemicalpathologist@adhb.govt.nz will receive priority attention from the on-call chemical pathologist.

If the query concerns a specific patient please include the NHI number in your email.

If email is not a suitable option, please contact the on-call chemical pathologist via Lablink (Auckland City Hospital ext. 22000 or 09-3078995).

Individual chemical pathologists may be contacted but will not be available at all times.

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: Sakunthala@adhb.govt.nz ext. 23427

Last updated at 15:26:00 06/01/2025