Serum Iron and Iron Binding Capacity - common data for the parameters, indications for investigation, principles of the analytical methods, reference ranges, result interpretation.
Functional Iron - 2/3 or more of bodys total Iron – In normoblasts + erythrocytes
Transferrin - binds 2 Fe³⁺ atoms TIBC - transferrin conc. in serum
Ferritin / Hemosiderin - storage Iron in (macrophages of Reticuloendothelial system) of liver
ferric salt + apoferritin
Functions: Essential Component of Hemoglobin + Myoglobin and of certain enzymes
Redox enzymatic reactions: O₂ added, H⁺ removed, or e⁻ transferred
Reference Ranges: Serum is preferred over plasma for iron determination because anticoagulant interferes with most procedures
Iron: Males: 11.6 – 31.7 µmol/LFemale: 9.0 - 30.4 µmol/L
TIBC - 45 - 66 µmol/L
Transferrin - Male - 2.0 - 4.0 g/lFemale - 2.0 - 3.5 g/l
Serum iron: Male: 11.6–31.7 µmol/L and Female: 9.0–30.4 µmol/LTIBC: 45-66 µmol/LSerum ferritin: Male 20-250 µg/L, Female 15-150 µg/LTransferrin: Male: 2,0-4,0 g/l
Indications for investigation: Tiredness, Fatigue, Anaemia
Principles of the analytical methods:
Serum level by
- photometry (Ferozine; Ferene methods).
- The reference method for total iron is atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
Total IBC by:
- Chemical methods – after full saturation of Transferrin with iron and measuring of the excess of unsaturated iron.
- Immunochemical – Tf as a protein - nephelometry, turbidimetry;
Ferritin by:
- ELISA,
- Immunofluorescence
↑Lvls = hemochromatosis, hemolysis, hepatic necrosis, B12 deficiency.
↓Lvls = GIT blood loss, Heavy menstruation, poor Iron absorption, Pregnancy
Result interpretation;
Indications – serum iron and IBC; iron deficiency, hemochromatosis and iron-deficient conditions. Transferrin – iron deficiency and differentiation of hypochromic anaemias. Ferritin – iron deficiency, differentiation of hypochromic anaemias, control of hemochromatosis treatment and iron overload suspicion due to frequent blood transfusions.