Iron (Fe)

Serum Iron

Up to 24 hours

Colorimetric

Accredited NRL Laboratory

Daily

Measuring iron in isolation has very little clinical utility, except in conditions where iron toxicity is suspected.
More useful alternatives include the Iron Profile (Test code: 11097) or TIBC/Transferrin Saturation (Test code: 16419).

Iron results in this order are reported in conventional units (µg/dL; mcg/dL)

Serum or Plasma

0.5 mL

Serum (SST; Gold Top or plain serum; Red Top) Lithium Heparin Plasma (Green Top)

Patients should avoid taking multivitamins or dietary supplements containing biotin (vitamin B7) for 12 hours and be fasted for 8 hours (but no more than 16 hours) prior to specimen collection.

This test does not require any special collection or pre-analytical handling. Follow routine specimen collection protocols.