Description

Ferritin consists of a protein shell (apoferritin) surrounding variable amounts of iron complexed as ferric hydroxide-phosphate. Ferritin present in the serum contains approximately 20-25% iron. Serum ferritin concentrations in normal individuals and iron deficient patients correlate well with total body iron stores.


 

Reference Ranges for Serum Ferritin

Age

Male

Female

newborn

25 - 200 ng/mL

25 - 200 ng/mL

1 month

200 - 600 ng/mL

200 - 600 ng/mL

2 - 5 months

50 - 200 ng/mL

50 - 200 ng/mL

6 months - 15 years

7 - 140 ng/mL

7 - 140 ng/mL

> 15 years

20 - 250 ng/mL

10 - 120 ng/mL

 

Conversion to SIU:

(1) factor: 1.0

(2) SI units: µg/L

 

Serum Ferritin Level

Interpretation

< 10 ng/mL

usually indicative of iron deficiency anemia

> 220 ng/mL

in an adult: iron overload

 

Limitations:

• Ferritin is an acute phase reactant, which may be elevated in chronic inflammatory disorders. This can mask iron deficiency or even suggest elevated iron body stores.

• A ferritin >= 90 ng/mL is not associated with iron deficiency, even with an acute phase reaction.

 

Estimates of Iron Body Stores

 

estimated total iron body stores in mg =

= (serum ferritin in ng/mL) * 8

 

estimated total iron body stores in µmol =

= (serum ferritin in µg/L) * 143

 

Limitations - Serum ferritin is not a good indicator of iron body stores in:

(1) iron overload

(2) some chronic inflammatory diseases


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