A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z # |
Transferrin
Test CodeTRF - NOCO
CPT Codes
84466
Preferred Specimen
In-patient: 1 mL plasma from Green top (Lithium Heparin)
Out-patient: 1 mL serum from SST
Out-patient: 1 mL serum from SST
Minimum Volume
0.5 mL
Other Acceptable Specimens
1.0 mL serum from SST or Red Top
Instructions
Patient should be fasting.
Specimen Stability
Temperature | Time |
Ambient | 5 days |
Refrigerated | 5 days |
Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)
Gross hemolysis
Methodology
Nephelometric
Setup Schedule
Monday through Sunday; Continuously
Report Available
Same day
Reference Range
0 - 4 days: 130 - 275 mg/dL
4 days - 3 months: 130 - 360 mg/dL
3 months - 16 years: 203 - 360 mg/dL
16 years - 150 years: 200 - 390 mg/dL
4 days - 3 months: 130 - 360 mg/dL
3 months - 16 years: 203 - 360 mg/dL
16 years - 150 years: 200 - 390 mg/dL
Clinical Significance
Transferrin is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 79570 daltons. It consists of a polypeptide strand with two N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains and exists in numerous isoforms. The rate of synthesis in the liver can be altered in accordance with the body’s iron requirements and iron reserves. Transferrin is the iron transport protein in serum. In cases of iron deficiency, the degree of transferrin saturation appears to be an extremely sensitive indicator of functional iron depletion. The ferritin levels are depressed when there is a deficiency of storage iron. In sideropenia, an iron deficiency can be excluded if the serum transferrin concentration is low, as in inflammations or – less commonly – in cases of ascorbic acid deficiency. In screening for hereditary hemochromatosis, transferrin saturation provides a better indication of the homozygous genotype than does ferritin. The treatment of anemia with erythropoietin in patients with renal failure is only effective when sufficient depot iron is present. The best monitoring procedure is to determine transferrin saturation during therapy. Transferrin saturation in connection with ferritin gives a conclusive prediction of the exclusion of iron overloading in patients with chronic liver disease. A variety of methods are available for determining transferrin including radial immunodiffusion, nephelometry and turbidimetry. The Roche transferrin assay is based on the immunological agglutination principle.
Performing Laboratory
North Colorado Medical Center Laboratory
McKee Medical Center