[Evaluation of a method for the determination of serum ferritin by chemiluminescence]

The aim of this study was to assess a technique for serum ferritin determination by means of chemoluminiscence (Magic Lite, Ciba Corning) in a series of unselected patients. A group of 100 healthy blood donors (50 men and 50 women), in whom iron deficiency had been previously excluded, was used as control. The results were validate according to the Societé Francaise de Biologie Clinique guidances. The characteristics of the method and its comparison with IRMA and ELISA techniques are described here. Its major advantages are related with simplicity and sensitivity; the main disadvantage is the necessity to repeat every step in samples with ferritin levels over 1,500 ng/dl.