About the test
Iron is a major component of haemoglobin and is necessary for oxygen transport from the lungs to the tissues.
Τhe main source of iron is food but just a small percentage of iron is absorbed by the organism. Iron is stored as ferritin and as hemosiderin in the liver and in the reticuloendothelial system It is released in peripheral blood to meet the organism’s needs. Its transport is achieved through transferrin.
Sample
Venous blood
Preparation
12 hours fasting prior to testing. Water is allowed.
Procedure
Venipuncture
Increased values
- Blood transfusions
- Hemochromatosis
- Nephritis
- Drugs (contraceptives, methyl-dopa, chloramphenicol)
- Polycythemia
- Alcohol abuse and chronic liver disease
- Aplastic anemia
- Pernicious anemia
Decreased values
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Menstruation
- Gastrectomy
- Pregnancy
- Breast feeding
- Autoimmune disorders
- Myocardial infarction
- Burns
- Drugs (aspirin, colchicine, testosterone, methicillin)
Additional information
Serum iron’s values fluctuate throughout the day its testing is therefore more useful when iron overload is suspected.
In case iron deficiency is suspected, it is recommended that serum iron testing is accompanied by measurement of ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation.