Iron/IBC

Test Code

IRNIBC

CPT Codes
83540; 83550

Includes

Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity and Percent Iron Saturation

Preferred Specimen

Serum (gold or red top tube)

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Transport Container

Serum (gold or red top) Tube

Transport Temperature

Room Temperature or Refrigeration

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature - 3 days; Refrigerated - 7 days

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Hemolysis, Quantity Not Sufficient, EDTA (purple top tube) contamination, IV contamination

Methodology
Photometric

Setup Schedule

Daily upon receipt

Report Available

Upon completion of analysis

Limitations

Desferal (Deferoxamine Mesylate) can interfere with iron and TIBC testing.

Reference Range

Iron (Female):      37 - 170 mg/dL
Iron (Male):          49 - 181 mg/dL
TIBC (Female):     265 - 497 ug/dL
TIBC (Male):         261 - 462 ug/dL
% Iron Sat:           11 - 40%

Clinical Significance

Ingested iron is absorbed primarily from the intestinal tract and is temporarily stored in the mucosal cells as Fe(III)-ferritin. Ferritin provides a soluble protein shell to encapsulate a complex of insoluble ferric hydroxide-ferric phosphate. On demand, iron is released into the blood by mechanisms that are not clearly understood, to be transported as Fe(III)-transferrin. Transferrin is the primary plasma iron transport protein, which binds iron strongly at physiological pH. Transferrin is generally only 25% to 30% saturated with iron. The additional amount of iron that can be bound is the unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC). The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) can be indirectly determined using the sum of the serum iron and UIBC. Knowing the molecular weight of the transferrin and that each molecule of transferrin can bind 2 atoms of iron, TIBC and transferrin concentration is interconvertible. Percent saturation (100 x serum iron/TIBC) is usually normal or increased in persons who are iron deficient, pregnant, or are taking oral contraceptive medications. Persons with chronic inflammatory processes, hemochromatosis, or malignancies generally display low transferrin.

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.