Samples should be taken in the morning from patients in a fasting state, since iron values decreaseby30% during the course of the day4.
Timing, specimen options and instructions reflect the source snapshot.
FROM COLLECTION TO THE LAB
Specimen & handling
Specimen
Serum
Container
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml
Required volume
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml
Preparation
Samples should be taken in the morning from patients in a fasting state, since iron values decreaseby30% during the course of the day4.
Collection instructions
Serum Separator Tube (SST) – 0.5 ml
Processing
All human Serum Samples are considered to be potentially infective and are to be treated as such. Follow all precaution for handling biological material. Use all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Serum free from hemolysis is the recommended specimens. Allow blood samples to clot (15 mins). Separate the serum from the cells by centrifuging for 10 minutes. Store serum at 2-8°C until analysis.
Storage
Refrigerated
Stability
Serum iron is stable for 7 days when stored at 2 – 8°C or 4 days at room temperature (18 – 25°C) after the serum is separated from red cells.
Rejection criteria
Any sample that is mislabeled, sample without a test request; broken or damaged tubes; hemolyzed sample.
Technical information & codes+
Methodology
Quantitative Spectrophotometry
CPT code
83540
Codes are shown for identification from the source snapshot. Confirm current coding and billing information with the laboratory.
