Ferritin

Ferritin

Epic Mnemonic
Sunquest Mnemonic

LAB68
FERI

Category

Chemistry

Methodology

Immunoturbidimetric assay

Test Performance Schedule

Sunday - Saturday

Result Availability

Within 24 hours

Container

Gold top (SST), Red top (serum), or Green top (lithium heparin) tube
Alt: EDTA - GREEN / RED

Volume

Pref. Vol.: 1.0 mL serum
Min. Vol.: 0.5 mL serum

Collection Instructions

• Routine venipuncture

• Immediately after collection, gently invert tube 5-10 times

• Clot 30 minutes

• Promptly centrifuge

• If no gel barrier is present immediately transfer serum or plasma to a plastic tube and refrigerate

• Properly centrifuged gel barrier tube does not require transfer of serum or plasma to separate tube

Transportation Instructions

Refrigerated

Stability

• Room Temperature: 5 days
• Refrigerated: 5 days

Causes for Rejection

• Hemolysis

Remarks

Medicare Medical Necessity Policy

CPT Codes

82728

Effective/Revised

3/20/14

Ferritin is the iron storage protein. The determination of ferritin is necessary above all in iron metabolism diagnosis, monitoring iron therapy, ascertaining the iron reserves in groups at risk and in the differential diagnosis of anemias. It encompasses prelatent and latent iron deficiency as well as iron overloading. It is also used to distinguish between hypoferric anemia and hypochromic anemia (chronic infection and tumor anemias, sideroblastic anemia or thalassemia).

Ferritin determinations are particularly suitable for monitoring renal anemia when iron utilization and distribution disorders are present during therapy with erythropoietin. The ferritin detectable in blood is in equilibrium with the body’s depot iron and hence acts as an indicator for the level of the iron stores.