Reference intervals established using indirect method for serum ferritin assayed on Abbott Architect i2000_SR analyzer...

Area of Science:

• Clinical Chemistry
• Laboratory Medicine
• Biomarker Analysis

Background:

• Serum ferritin (SF) testing is a common clinical tool.
• Existing SF reference intervals (RIs) vary by analytical method and ethnicity.
• Establishing population-specific RIs is crucial for accurate interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish indirect reference intervals (RIs) for serum ferritin (SF) in Chinese adults.
• To compare these RIs with manufacturer-provided values.
• To provide a more suitable SF testing benchmark for the Chinese population.

Main Methods:

• Utilized SF test results from 14,310 Chinese health examinees (2010-2019).
• Employed Box-Cox transformation and outlier exclusion on raw data.
• Calculated 95% RIs using both parametric and non-parametric statistical approaches.

Main Results:

• SF levels differed significantly between males and females.
• A weak positive correlation was observed between SF levels and age in females.
• Established parametric RIs: Males (66.12-561.58 µg/L), Females (3.59-269.59 µg/L).
• Established non-parametric RIs: Males (65.00-571.37 µg/L), Females (4.00-254.00 µg/L).
• Age-stratified RIs for females were also determined.

Conclusions:

• The derived indirect RIs for SF in Chinese adults differ substantially from manufacturer recommendations.
• These new RIs are potentially more appropriate for the Chinese population.
• The findings aid in more accurate laboratory data interpretation and clinical decision-making.