Test ID: TRSF
Transferrin, Serum
NY State Approved 
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Serum iron, TIBC and % saturation are useful only in screening for chronic iron overload diseases, particularly hereditary hemochromatosis. Although serum iron, TIBC and % saturation are widely used for the diagnosis of iron deficiency, serum ferritin is a much more sensitive and reliable means of demonstration of this disorder.
Method Name A short description of the method used to perform the test
Immunoturbidimetric Assay
Reporting Name A shorter/abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test; an abbreviated test name
Aliases Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching
Specimen Type Describes the specimen type needed for testing
Specimen Required Defines the optimal specimen. This field describes the type of specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing. The volume allows automated processing, fastest throughput and, when indicated, repeat or reflex testing.
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Serum gel
Acceptable: Red top
Specimen Volume: 0.6 mL
Specimen Minimum Volume Defines the amount of specimen required to perform an assay once, including instrument and container dead space. Submitting the minimum specimen volume makes it impossible to repeat the test or perform confirmatory or perform reflex testing. In some situations, a minimum specimen volume may result in a QNS (quantity not sufficient) result, requiring a second specimen to be collected.
Reject Due To Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected
| Hemolysis | Mild OK; Gross reject |
| Lipemia | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Icterus | Mild OK; Gross OK |
| Other | NA |
Specimen Stability Information Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the laboratory. Alternate acceptable temperature(s) are also included.
| Specimen Type | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Serum | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days |
| Frozen | 180 days | |
| Ambient | 7 days |
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Transferrin is a glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 79570 daltons. It consists of a polypeptide strand with 2 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 inflammation 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 conjunction with ferritin gives a conclusive prediction of the exclusion of iron overloading in patients with chronic liver disease.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
200-360 mg/dL
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
In hereditary hemochromatosis, serum iron is usually >150 mcg/dL and % saturation exceeds 60%.
In advanced iron overload states, the % saturation often exceeds 90%.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Measurement of serum iron, iron binding capacity, and % saturation should not be used as the primary test for iron deficiency. It may be helpful in conjunction with ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor, especially in patients with inflammation.
Clinical Reference Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Silverman LM, Christenson RH, Grant GH: Amino acids and proteins. In Textbook of Clinical Chemistry. Edited by NW Tietz. Philadelphia, WB Saunders Company, 1986, pp 519-618
2. Ramsay WNM: The determination of the total iron binding capacity of serum. Clin Chim Acta 1957;1:221-226
3. Tsung SH, Rosenthal WA, Milewski KA: Immunological measurement of transferrin compared with chemical measurement of total iron binding capacity. Clin Chem 1975;21:1063-1066
4. Buffone GJ, Lewis SA, Losefsohn M, Hicks JM: Chemical and immunochemical measurements of total iron binding capacity compared. Clin Chem 1978;24:1788-1791
5. Markowitz H, Fairbanks VF: Transferrin assay and total iron binding capacity. Mayo Clin Proc 1983;58:827-828
6. Szoke D, Panteghini M: Diagnostic value of transferrin. Clin Chim Acta (2012), doi:10.1016/j.cca.2012.04.021
Method Description Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference
Anti-transferrin antibodies react with the antigen in the sample to form an antigen/antibody complex. Following agglutination, this is measured turbidimetrically. Addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) allows the reaction to progress rapidly to the end point and increases sensitivity.(Package insert: Roche TRSF2 reagent. Indianapolis, IN, 2005)
Day(s) and Time(s) Test Performed Outlines the days and times the test is performed. This field reflects the day and time the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time required before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means assays are performed several times during the day.
Monday through Saturday; Continuously
Analytic Time Defines the amount of time it takes the laboratory to setup and perform the test. This is defined in number of days. The shortest interval of time expressed is "same day/1 day," which means the results may be available the same day that the sample is received in the testing laboratory. One day means results are available 1 day after the sample is received in the laboratory.
Maximum Laboratory Time Defines the maximum time from specimen receipt at Mayo Medical Laboratories until the release of the test result
Specimen Retention Time Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded
Performing Laboratory Location The location of the laboratory that performs the test
Test Classification Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer's instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR), Investigation Use Only (IUO) product, or a Research Use Only (RUO) product.
CPT Code Information Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Medical Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.
84466
LOINC® Code Information Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the result codes returned for this test or profile.
| Result ID | Reporting Name | LOINC Code |
|---|---|---|
| TRSF | Transferrin, S | In Process |
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