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Test Code FE or LAB94 Iron, Serum or Plasma

Important Note

Note: Iron levels can be transiently elevated after taking iron supplement (including multivitamin) or iron rich meal.  Patient should not take iron containing supplements for 24 hours before blood draw.   12 hour fast preferred. 

Specimen Requirements

Container Type:

Optimal: Gold or Mint*

*For STAT requests

Acceptable: Red or Green
Optimal Collection Volume: 

4.5mL; full tube
Minimum Volume:
  • Adults: 1 mL whole blood
  • Neonates: 1 microtainer (400-600 uL)
Collection Instructions:

Gently invert the sample 5-6 times after collection.
Specimen Transport:

Refrigerate
Processing Instructions: 

1. If serum, allow the specimen to clot for 30 minutes.

2. Centrifuge specimen within 2 hours of collection.

3. After centrifugation, specimen tubes without a gel barrier should have the serum or plasma aliquoted to a false bottom container.

4. Keep the serum or plasma refrigerated until testing can be performed.

Specimen Stability

Specimen Type Temperature Time
Serum* Refrigerated 3 weeks
Room Temperature 7 days
Frozen > 1 year

*Note: Heparinized plasma in gel separator tubes is less stable than serum and is only suitable for add-on testing up to 2 days following sample collection.

Specimen Rejection Criteria

Hemolysis Mild OK; Moderate Reject; Gross Reject
Lipemia Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Icterus Mild OK; Moderate OK; Gross Reject
Other Quantity not sufficient

Useful For

A single iron level is not useful in isolation.  Serum ferritin along with fransferrin saturation  provide additional diagnostic information for iron related disorders. 

Methodology

Roche Cobas - Colorimetric

Reference Ranges

  • Male: 80-160 ug/dL
  • Female: 60-135 ug/dL

Day(s) Performed

24/7

Expected TAT

Same day

Performing Laboratory

Bronson Laboratory, Chemistry - Kalamazoo and Battle Creek

Sample Retention Time

7 days

CPT Code

83540

LOINC Code

19123-9

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