Ferritin

Label Mnemonic:	FRTN
Epic code:	LAB68
Downtime form:	Doctor/Provider Orders - Pathology Core and Specialty Care Nursery

Chemistry
6240 RCP
356-3527

Specimen(s):

Plasma

Collection Medium:

Plasma Separator Tube 4.5 mL

Alternate Collection Media:

Call laboratory for additional acceptable specimen collection containers.

Minimum:

3 mL whole blood from light green top tube or TWO Microtainer^® devices.

Testing Schedule:

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

Turn Around Time:

1 hour (upon receipt in laboratory)

Reference Range:

Manufacturer's reference range:
  Adult male     30 - 400 ng/mL
  Adult female   13 - 150 ng/mL
See also: Am J Clin Path, 70: 79, 1978; Can Med Assoc J, 114: 417, 1976
Iron deficiency 0-20 ng/mL

Comments:

This assay may be significantly impacted by high-dose biotin (>5 mg dose) taken within previous 12 hours. High concentrations of biotin may lead to falsely decreased results. These concentrations may be found in patients taking over-the-counter supplements with biotin content much higher than nutritional requirements for biotin. Specimens should not be collected until at least 12 hours after the last dose.

Refer to BD Microtainer^® Tubes product sheet for detailed sample collection instructions.

Test Limitations:

The assay is unaffected by icterus (bilirubin is less than 65 
mg/dL), hemolysis (Hb is less than 500 mg/dL), lipemia  (Intralipid is 
less than 3300 mg/dL) and biotin is less than 50 ng/ml. (criterion: 
recovery within plus or minus 10% of initial value).

No interference was observed from rheumatoid factors up to a 
concentration of 2500 U/mL.

No high dose hook effect at ferritin concentrations of up to 100 000 
ng/mL.

In vitro tests were performed on 19 commonly used pharmaceuticals. No 
interference with the assay was found.

Iron2+- and iron3+-ions at therapeutic concentrations do not interfere 
in the Ferritin assay.

As with all tests containing monoclonal antibodies, erroneous findings 
may be obtained from samples taken from patients who have been treated 
with monoclonal mouse antibodies or who have received them for 
diagnostic purposes. Ferritin contains additives which minimize these 
effects.

In rare cases interference due to extremely high titers of antibodies 
to streptavidin and ruthenium can occur.

For diagnostic purposes, the Ferritin findings should always be 
assessed in conjunction with the patient's medical history, clinical 
examination and other findings.

Methodology:

Electrochemiluminescence Immunoassay

CPT Code:

82728

See Additional Information:
Biotin Interference with Immunoassays