Laboratory Medicine
Test Directory / Transferrin
Transferrin
Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin
| Test | Transferrin |
|---|---|
| Common Abbreviations | TRA |
| Profile | Iron Studies/ Transferrin saturation |
| Tube type | Brown clotted serum, gel barrier or lithium heparin |
| Clinical Indication | Measurement of plasma transferrin levels is useful in the differential diagnosis of anaemia and will rise with iron deficiency anaemia. In congenital atransferrinaemia, a very low level of transferrin is accompanied by iron overload and a severe hypochromic anaemia resistant to iron therapy. High levels of transferrin occur in pregnancy and during oestrogen administration. It is decreased in conditions that are associated with increased protein loss such as nephritic syndrome, protein-deficiency states and in chronic liver disease. Transferrin is a negative acute phase reactant and will decrease during any inflammatory state or malignancy. Transferrin is used in conjunction with iron to calculate transferring saturation. |
| Specimen Type | Blood |
| Sample type | Serum or plasma |
| Minimum Volume | 0.5mL If requesting more than 10 tests please send an additional brown clotted serum sample. |
| Special Precautions | Fasting sample preferred if iron overload is suspected. |
| Stability | 8 days at 2-25°C |
| Turnaround Time | Inpatient: 4 hours Outpatient/ GP: 24 hours |
| Laboratory | York and Scarborough |
| Reference Interval | 2.0-3.6 g/L (Quoted by the manufacturer) |
| Limitations | Samples with extremely abnormal optical characteristics, especially turbidity, may produce atypical results. |
| Notes |
