Specimen:

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Alternate
Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection 
containers.

Minimum:

2 mls whole blood from light green top tube or one microtube for 
pediatric patients.
Avoid hemolysis.

Testing
Schedule:

24 hrs/day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

Analytic Time:

2 hours (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

Male   87-150 mcg/dl
Female 72-130 mcg/dl

The concentration of iron in serum/plasma is dependent on the diet and 
is subject to circadian variations.

TIBC = 228-428 mcg/dL
UIBC = 110-370 mcg/dL

Saturation: 27-44%

Pediatric Reference Ranges:

Age               Range    Units
Birth-4 months    110-270  mcg/dl
4 months-1 year    30-70   mcg/dl
2-3 years          20-124  mcg/dl
3-10 years         53-119  mcg/dl

Iron Binding Capacity
Birth-4 months     59-175  mcg/dl
4 months-10 years 250-400  mcg/dl

Percent Saturation
Newborn            65%
4-10 months        25%
3-10 years         30%

Comments:

Please print, complete and submit the Advance Beneficiary Notice 
(ABN) along with the Laboratory Requisition before shipping the 
specimen.

Test
Limitations:

Icterus: No significant interference up to an I index of 60 
(approximate conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin concentration: 60 
mg/dl).

Hemolysis: No significant interference up to an H index of 69 
(approximate hemoglobin concentration: 69 mg/dl). Higher hemoglobin 
concentrations lead to false-positive values due to contamination of 
the sample with hemoglobin-bound iron.

Lipemia (Intralipid): No significant interference up to an L index of 
1000 (approximate triglycerides concentration: 2000 mg/dl). There is 
poor correlation between turbidity and triglycerides concentration.

In patients treated with Deferoxamine, the drug-bound plasma iron does 
not react in the test, resulting in falsely lowered values.

Reference:
Glick MR, Ryder KW, Jackson SA. Graphical Comparisons of Interferences 
in Clinical Chemistry Instrumentation. Clin Chem 1986;32:470-474.

Methodology:

Spectrophotometric

Sample
Processing:

Centrifuge at 3000 RPM for 10 minutes.
Aliquot plasma into labeled container and cap.

Sample
Storage:

Refrigerate.

Transport
Instructions:

Place requisition into outside pocket of bag.
Place specimen into zip-lock type bag, seal bag.
Transport in cooler with refrigerated coolant packs.

CPT Code:

83550