IRON

Mnemonic

IRON

Specimen Collection Requirements

Collect

Serum or Plasma, one 5.0 mL gold (SST) or 3.0 mL mint green (lithium heparin, PST) top tube

Handling

Allow serum to completely clot at room temperature (minimum: 30 minutes). Centrifuge and separate serum or plasma from cells ASAP. Avoid contamination with environmental iron. Use only Iron-free collection tubes, pipets and test tubes.

Preferred Volume

1.0 mL

Minimum Volume

0.5 mL

Transport

Refrigerated (2-8°C)

Rejection Criteria

Hemolyzed specimens

Stability

AFTER SEPARATION FROM CELLS: Ambient (20-25°C): 24 hours; Refrigerated (2-8°C): 7 days; Frozen (at or below -20°C): 1 month

Testing Information

Performed

7 day/week

Method

Colorimetry

Referral Lab

Samaritan Health Services Laboratories

Reference Values

Reference Values

Male: 59-158 mcg/dL Female: 37-145 mcg/dL

Toxic Levels

May begin at 280 µg/dL

CPT Codes

83540

Last Updated: Thursday, January 5, 2017 03:42:17 AM