Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols
11:31

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols

Published on: January 2, 2013

Normative data of hemoglobin concentration and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin in a private pediatric practice: a

J T Benjamin1, M D Dickens, R F Ford

  • 1Pediatric Associates, Charlottesville, VA 22901.

Clinical Pediatrics
|February 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Iron deficiency screening in children using free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and hemoglobin (Hgb) showed a significant decrease in abnormal FEP levels from 1984 to 1990. This suggests improved iron status or reduced screening effectiveness in pediatric practices.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Medicine
  • Hematology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Iron deficiency remains a significant public health concern in children.
  • Screening methods like hemoglobin (Hgb) and free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) are used to detect iron deficiency.
  • Changes in prevalence or screening practices may impact detection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of abnormal free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) and hemoglobin (Hgb) concentrations in children between 1984 and 1990.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of iron deficiency screening in a pediatric practice over time.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study analyzing FEP and Hgb levels in 790 children in a private pediatric office.
  • Comparison of data from 1990 with a previous study conducted in 1984.
  • Analysis of abnormal FEP and Hgb concentrations across different age groups.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in abnormal FEP levels was observed, from 9.6% in 1984 to 2% in 1990.
  • The mean FEP in the normal group also decreased significantly across all studied age groups.
  • Hemoglobin concentrations did not show significant differences in most age groups between the two study periods.

Conclusions:

  • The yield of iron deficiency screening using Hgb and FEP concentrations was substantially lower in 1990 compared to 1984.
  • The findings may indicate improved iron status in the pediatric population or a need to re-evaluate current screening strategies.

More Related Videos

Characterization of Sickling During Controlled Automated Deoxygenation with Oxygen Gradient Ektacytometry08:23

Characterization of Sickling During Controlled Automated Deoxygenation with Oxygen Gradient Ektacytometry

Published on: November 5, 2019

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level05:35

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

Published on: January 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Erythropoiesis01:14

Erythropoiesis

Red blood cells  (RBCs) transport oxygen to all body tissues. These cells survive only for 120 days and then need to be replenished. Erythropoiesis is the process of RBC production. In healthy individuals, erythropoiesis ensures all tissues are amply supplied with oxygen. In addition, blood loss due to injury leads to a drop in the physiological oxygen level that will cause erythropoiesis. Any defect in erythropoiesis leads to several physiological disorders, including thalassemia, anemia, and...
Overview of Hematopoiesis01:20

Overview of Hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis, or blood cell production, is a vital biological process that begins early in embryonic development and continues throughout life. This process generates the various types of cells found in blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Hemoglobin01:24

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a globular protein made up of four subunits. Two of these subunits are alpha chains, and the other two are beta chains. Each subunit contains a molecule of heme, which has an iron atom and can bind to oxygen. When an oxygen molecule binds to one heme group, it changes the shape of hemoglobin, making it easier for the other heme groups to bind oxygen as well.
When all four heme groups are bound to oxygen, the resulting molecule is called oxyhemoglobin. As a result, arterial blood...
Disorders of Erythrocytes01:27

Disorders of Erythrocytes

Disorders of erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), include a range of conditions affecting their number, shape, or function.
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis01:24

Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis

The cardiovascular system regulates the number of erythrocytes in the bloodstream to ensure optimal oxygen transport. It also prevents over-proliferation of these cells, which helps to maintain blood viscosity and flow rate.
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
Oxygen Transport in the Blood01:27

Oxygen Transport in the Blood

Hemoglobin (Hb) is a crucial molecule in the human body, consisting of four polypeptide chains, each bound to an iron-containing heme group. This unique structure enables hemoglobin to bind to oxygen, with each molecule capable of combining with four molecules of oxygen, leading to rapid and reversible oxygen loading. When fully loaded with oxygen, it is called oxyhemoglobin, while hemoglobin that has released oxygen is called reduced hemoglobin or deoxyhemoglobin. As hemoglobin binds oxygen,...