Mayo Test Catalog, (Sorted By Test Name) - Mayo Medical ...

TNFN
300205
Transferrin, Serum
Clinical Information: Transferrin is an iron-binding serum protein and can be readily assayed by
either measurement of immunologic reactivity or measurement of the total iron-binding capacity
(TIBC). Knowing the molecular weight of the transferrin and that each molecule of transferrin can bind
2 atoms of iron, TIBC and transferrin concentration is interconvertible. All of the many known
molecular variants of transferrin have the same iron-binding function. Thus, at present, neither specific
functional nor immunologically altered transferrins have been identified that would result in spurious
results when transferrin is measured either immunologically or as TIBC. Changes in transferrin
concentration occur in response to an iron deficiency in chronic diseases among many other causes. The
changes are of the same direction and magnitude whether transferrin is measured immunologically or as
the TIBC.
Useful For: Work-up of patients suspected of having congenital transferrin abnormalities An
alternate test to total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) Measurements in pediatric patients because of the
small serum specimen compared to the TIBC procedure
Interpretation: Severe iron deficiency can result in levels as high as 700 mg/dL. Levels as low as 40
mg/dL can be seen in protein losing states such as nephrotic syndrome. Congenital atransferrinemia in
the rare reported cases has been characterized by immunologically measured transferrin concentration
of zero and total iron-binding capacity very near zero.
Reference Values:
170-340 mg/dL
Clinical References: 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, Iosefsohn 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.
Siemens Nephelometer II Operators Instruction Manual. Siemens, Inc., Newark, DE
800154 Transferrin, Serum
Clinical Information: Transferrin is an iron-binding serum protein and can be readily assayed by
either measurement of immunologic reactivity or measurement of the total iron-binding capacity
(TIBC). Knowing the molecular weight of the transferrin and that each molecule of transferrin can bind
2 atoms of iron, TIBC and transferrin concentration are interconvertible. All of the many known
molecular variants of transferrin have the same iron-binding function. Thus, at present, neither specific
functional nor immunologically altered transferrins have been identified that would result in spurious
results when transferrin is measured either immunologically or as TIBC. Changes in transferrin
concentration occur in response to an iron deficiency in chronic diseases, among many other causes.
The changes are in the same direction and of the same magnitude whether transferrin is measured
immunologically or as the TIBC.
Useful For: Work-up of patients suspected of having congenital transferrin abnormalities An
alternate test to TIBC Measurements in pediatric patients because of the small serum specimen
compared to the TIBC procedure
Interpretation: Severe iron deficiency can result in levels as high as 700 mg/dL. Levels as low as 40
mg/dL can be seen in protein losing states such as nephrotic syndrome. Congenital atransferrinemia in
the rare reported cases has been characterized by immunologically measured transferrin concentration
of zero and TIBC very near zero.
Reference Values:
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