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Related Experiment Videos

Population norms for serum ferritin

E M Custer1, C A Finch, R E Sobel

  • 1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, USA.

The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
|July 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

This study aimed to create better reference ranges for serum ferritin, a blood test that measures iron levels. Researchers analyzed blood samples from over 960,000 people in the U.S. They focused on a subgroup of nearly 60,000 individuals who had normal results on 28 other tests. This group was considered healthier and more representative. The study found that ferritin levels change with age and sex. In men, levels rise from adolescence to a peak in their 30s. In women, levels stay low until menopause, after which they increase. These findings help doctors interpret ferritin results more accurately by considering age and sex. The study supports using population-based norms to detect iron-related issues.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical laboratory science
  • Population health research
  • Hematology

Background:

Reference ranges for serum ferritin are essential for diagnosing iron-related disorders. Prior research has shown that ferritin levels vary by age, sex, and health status. No prior work had resolved the need for population-based norms that account for multiple health indicators. Conventional reference ranges often fail to reflect true population distributions. This gap motivated the development of more accurate norms using a large, diverse sample. Researchers sought to improve the reliability of ferritin interpretation in clinical settings. Existing data lacked comprehensive age- and sex-specific percentiles. This study aimed to address these limitations by analyzing a broad population cohort.

Purpose Of The Study:

The study aimed to establish population-based reference ranges for serum ferritin. Researchers wanted to account for variations in age and sex. They focused on a large, diverse sample to ensure generalizability. The goal was to improve the accuracy of ferritin interpretation. They used a subgroup with normal results on 28 other tests to refine norms. This approach aimed to reduce the influence of underlying health conditions. The study sought to provide updated percentiles for clinical use. These norms could help better identify iron deficiency or overload.

Keywords:
serum ferritinreference rangespopulation normsiron levelsclinical laboratory

Frequently Asked Questions

The study established age- and sex-specific percentiles for serum ferritin in a large population.

The subgroup included individuals with normal results on 28 other laboratory tests.

Both groups showed log-normal distributions, which are common for skewed biological data.

The selected group was considered more representative of healthy individuals due to normal test results.

Median ferritin in males increased from 23 µg/L at ages 12–16 to a plateau in the 120s after age 32.

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Main Methods:

The study analyzed blood samples from 964,325 individuals across 10 U.S. centers. Researchers selected a subgroup of 59,914 individuals with normal results on 28 other tests. This subgroup was considered more representative of healthy individuals. Both the total and selected groups showed log-normal distributions. The selected group had lower ferritin values than the total population. Age and sex were categorized to calculate percentiles. Researchers compared median values across different age groups. They presented results as percentile distributions for males and females.

Main Results:

The selected group had lower ferritin values than the total population. In males, median ferritin increased from 23 µg/L at ages 12–16 to a plateau in the 120s after age 32. Female values remained in the 30s until menopause. After menopause, female values rose to about 80 µg/L. Percentiles were calculated for different age groups. The data showed a clear age-related trend in ferritin levels. Men and women had distinct patterns of ferritin accumulation. These results suggest age and sex should be considered in ferritin interpretation.

Conclusions:

The study provides updated population norms for serum ferritin. These norms account for age and sex differences. The selected subgroup had more accurate reference ranges. Researchers suggest using these percentiles in clinical practice. The data highlight the importance of age-specific thresholds. Men and women require different diagnostic considerations. The findings support the use of population-based norms. These norms may improve the detection of iron-related conditions.

Failed At:

2026-07-14T07:44:25.489276+00:00

The authors suggest using age- and sex-specific percentiles to improve ferritin interpretation.