Soluble Transferrin Receptor

Diagnostic Use

Soluble transferrin receptor quantitation is used for the evaluation of suspected iron deficiency in patients who may have inflammation, infection, or chronic disease and other conditions in which ferritin concentration does not correlate with iron status including:
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Chronic disease
• Malignancy
• Pregnancy
• Neonates
• Competitive athletes
• Cystic fibrosis patients where there is frequent inflammation or infection.
• Insulin dependent diabetes with iron deficiency (from gastro autoimmunity or atrophic gastritis).
• Transplant recipients.

Department

Protein Lab

Delphic Registration Code

STFR

Laboratory Handling

Test Adds

Suitable samples that have been refrigerated for up to 7 days or frozen.

Synonyms

sTfR
Transferrin Receptor

Turnaround Time

4 days

Test Code

3137

Specimen Type

• Serum

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Preferred if West Coast

• SST II (Gold Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

No of Samples Required

1

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred

• Serum (Red Cap)

Acceptable

• SST II (Gold Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Non-gel (Green Cap)
• Lithium Heparin - Gel (Light Green Cap)

Preferred Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

Minimum Sample Volume (ml)

0.25

Aliquot Instructions

Sample Type

• Serum

Minimum Volume (ml)

0.25

Transport to Lab

Chilled (2 - 8 degrees Celsius)

Interpretation

Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) concentrations are inversely related to iron status; sTfR elevates in response to iron deficiency and decreases in response to iron repletion.

Its primary role is in the context where iron deficiency may be masked with ferritin elevation into the reference interval (15-100 ug/L) in the presence of concomitant inflammation (CRP > 20mg/L).

Inflammation may elevate ferritin whilst lowering iron and saturation. sTfR, however is not an acute phase reactant and not affected by inflammation or chronic disease.

Cautions:

Patients with haemolysis and recent blood loss may have falsely elevated sTfR levels.

sTfR is also elevated in patients with increased red cell turnover, including those with thalassemia and sickle cell disease and other haemoglobinopathies.

A reticulocyte count may assist with interpretation in some cases. Other confounding conditions may include other erythroid malignancies and lymphoma.

It may also be falsely lowered in aplastic anaemia, chronic renal failure and patients on chemotherapy.

Reference Intervals

0.76 – 1.76 mg/L

Raised sTfR is supportive of iron deficient erythropoiesis, especially when concomitant inflammation may be masking iron stores.

Non-raised sTfR is not supportive of iron-deficient erythropoiesis.

Test Method

Nephelometric immunoassay on Siemens BNII.

Non-Funded Test Cost

$48.07 (Exclusive of GST)

Billing Code

3137

Contact Information

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