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Test Code Billings Clinic: 4062 Ferritin, Plasma and Serum

Important Note

Serum ferritin values are elevated in the presence of the following conditions and do not reflect actual body iron stores:

  • inflammation
  • significant tissue destruction
  • liver disease
  • malignancies such as acute leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease
  • therapy with iron supplements

Performing Laboratory

Billings Clinic Laboratory: Chemistry

Useful For

  • Measurements of ferritin are useful in the evaluation and monitoring of anemias.
  • Clinically low ferritin values can aid in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia while elevated values are found in cases of iron overload due to hemolytic anemia, multiple transfusion, tumor inflammation and in patients with cell necrosis of the iron storage organs, such as in liver disease.

Methodology

Chemiluminescence

Specimen Requirements

Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Serum or plasma should be physically separated from cells as soon as possible with a maximum limit of two hours from the time of collection.


Plasma (Preferred)

  • Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 1.0 mL of heparinized plasma frozen.
  • Indicate plasma on request form.
  • Label specimen appropriately (plasma).

Serum

  • Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel tube(s).
  • Spin down and send 1.0 mL of serum frozen.
  • Indicate serum on request form.
  • Label specimen appropriately (serum).

Storage/Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Plasma (Preferred), Serum Refrigerated 2 days
  Frozen (preferred) 1 month
  Ambient 8 hours

 

Reject Due To

  • Specimens frozen/thawed more than once

Reference Values

Males:

0 - 3 days                       27.0 - 504.0 ng/mL

3 - 14 days                     43.0 - 421.0 ng/mL

14 - 26 days                   27.0 - 383.0 ng/mL

26 - 42 days                   17.0 - 457.0 ng/mL

42 days - 5 months        20.0 - 250.0 ng/mL

5 months - 15 years         7.0 - 140.0 ng/mL

> 15 years                      26.0 - 388.0 ng/mL


Females:

0 - 3 days                       27.0 - 504.0 ng/mL

3 - 14 days                     43.0 - 421.0 ng/mL

14 - 26 days                   27.0 - 383.0 ng/mL

26 - 42 days                   17.0 - 457.0 ng/mL

42 days - 5 months        20.0 - 250.0 ng/mL

5 months - 15 years         7.0 - 140.0 ng/mL

> 15 years                        8.0 - 252.0 ng/mL

 

Day(s) Test Set Up

Daily

Test Classification and CPT Coding

82728 - Ferritin


LCD or NCD test. ICD-10 code is required for this test. When appropriate, obtain a properly executed ABN and submit the ABN with test order(s). See “Medical Necessity and Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) Policy and Form” under "Resources” for a copy of a form and additional information.

LOINC Code Information

Reporting Name LOINC Code
Ferritin 2276-4