Ferritin

 

Alternative names, keywords

  

Samples required

● Clotted blood (gold cap, 5 mL tube). Smaller tubes are available for paediatric samples.

Samples received more than 8 hours after venepuncture are unsuitable for analysis.

Test indications

Investigation of suspected iron deficiency or overload. Note ferritin is an acute phase protein so may be increased by acute or chronic inflammation.

Factors affecting test performance/ results

Samples should not be taken from patients receiving therapy with high biotin doses (i.e. > 5 mg/day) until at least 8 hours following the last biotin administration.

In rare cases, interference due to extremely high titres of antibodies to analyte-specific antibodies, streptavidin or ruthenium can occur.

Results should always be assessed in conjunction with the patient’s medical history, clinical examination and other findings.

Reference range

Male:

  7 months to <10 years

 6 - 110 µg/L

  10 years to <12 years

 15 - 200 µg/L

  12 years to <18 years

 30 - 200 µg/L

  18 years and over

 30 - 400 µg/L

Female:

  7 months to <12 years 

 8 - 115 µg/L

  12 years to <17 years

 30 - 115 µg/L

  17 - 60 years

30 - 150 µg/L

Ferritin concentration may be increased post-menopause.

  over 60 years

 30 - 330
 
Upper limit for adult males and females 17 - 60 years: Roche Cobas® Ferritin kit insert 2023-12, V 7.0
Paediatric and upper limit for females over 60 years: Snozek CLH, Spears GM, Porco AB, et al. Updated ferritin reference intervals for the Roche Elecsys® immunoassay. Clin Biochem. 2021;87:100-103. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2020.11.006 

Turnaround time

Same day

Enquiries

Biochemistry (Automation)
 
Details