Ferritin

Sample type:

Serum

Uses:

A serum ferritin test is performed to measure the quantity of ferritin in your blood

The test can diagnose Iron deficiency anemia ,Hemachromatosis ,Liver disease and Adult Still’s disease

Precaution :

If you are only giving the ferritin test, then you can eat and drink before the test. If you are asked to give your blood sample for additional tests, you may need to fast overnight according to the laboratory or your doctor’s recommendations.

Interfering factors:

1. Recently administered radioactive medications cause spurious results.

2. Oral contraceptives and antithyroid therapy interfere with testing

3. Hemolyzed blood may cause high results.

4. Increases with age.

5. Higher in red-meat eaters than vegetarians.

6. Ferritin is not of value to evaluate iron stores in alcoholic persons with liver disease.

Pre - analytical errors:

1. Oral contraceptives and antithyroid therapy interfere with testing

2. If the patient is consuming alcohol

Corrective action :

1. The patient should be asked about the medication he is taking.

2. Ask the Patient to refrain from alcohol before testing

Post analytical errors:

1. Writing wrong name in the report

2. Writing a wrong result in the report

The corrective action

1. Make sure you write the correct name in the report or use codes that contain all patient data .

2. If the report is not delivered to the patient and this error is discovered the correct result must be written, but if the report is delivered to the patient must communicate with him and tell him that an error has occurred and replace with the correct report

Reference ranges:

Male: 12-300 ng/mL.

Female: 10-150 ng/mL.