Iron

Message

Performing Lab: Central Lab, Lakeview, Regions

Test Code

3775

Alias/See Also

Sunquest: FE

CPT Codes
83540

Preferred Specimen

0.1 mL Lithium Heparin Plasma (light green-top) tube

Minimum Volume

70 uL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Serum separator (gold-top), Lithium Heparin (light green-top) on ICE (ALL SITES)
Red, Red/Gray (Lakeview only)

Transport Temperature

Refrigerated

Specimen Stability

Room Temperature (7 days), Refrigerated (3 weeks), Frozen (1 year)

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

Hemolysis

Methodology
Two-point Rate

Setup Schedule

Hospital: Daily
Clinics: Monday - Friday

Report Available

Same day.

Limitations

Do not use hemolyzed specimens because of the high concentration of iron in hemoglobin.

Reference Range

Gender	Ref. Range	Critical Value
		>= 350 mcg/dL

Female	50 - 170 mcg/dL
Male	65 - 175 mcg/dL

Clinical Significance

Most body iron is found in hemoglobin. The serum measurement of iron is useful in the differential diagnosis of anemia, iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, possible sideroblastic anemia, and iron poisoning.
Serum iron is increased in hemosiderosis, hemolytic anemias, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemias, hepatitis, acute hepatic necrosis, hemochromatosis, inappropriate iron therapy, and iron poisoning.
Serum iron is decreased in cases of insufficient dietary iron, chronic blood loss, inadequate absorption of iron, impaired release of iron stores (commonly observed in inflammation), infection, and chronic diseases.

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.