Related Experiment Videos
Comparison of two kits for measuring ferritin in blood
Insights
Blood ferritin levels indicate iron stores in infants. Different assay methods yielded varying results, prompting the use of both kits for accurate infant iron status assessment.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Pediatrics
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Ferritin concentration in blood is a key biomarker for assessing iron stores.
- Accurate measurement of ferritin is crucial for diagnosing iron deficiency or overload, especially in vulnerable populations like infants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure plasma ferritin concentrations in infants aged 3 to 15 months.
- To compare results obtained from two different commercial assay kits: Ferrizyme immunoassay and GammaDab125 I Kit.
- To address discrepancies observed between the two assay methods.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples from infants (3-15 months) were collected over a four-year study period.
- Samples were analyzed using the Ferrizyme immunoassay (Abbott Laboratories) for the first three years.
- Remaining samples were analyzed using the GammaDab125 I Kit (Baxter Travenol Diagnostics) in the final year.
Main Results:
- Both assay kits reported low inter- and intra-assay variability (< or = 5%).
- Samples analyzed with the GammaDab125 I Kit showed higher ferritin results compared to the Ferrizyme immunoassay for infants of similar age and iron intake.
- This discrepancy necessitated the analysis of subsequent samples using both kits.
Conclusions:
- Different ferritin assay methods can produce varying results, impacting the interpretation of infant iron status.
- Methodological differences in ferritin assays require careful consideration when comparing data across studies or using different kits.
- Standardization or cross-validation of assay methods is important for reliable assessment of iron stores in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
Ferritin concentrations in blood are a good indicator of iron stores and can be measured in plasma or serum with commercial kits. We have measured plasma ferritin content in infants ranging from 3 to 15 months of age. During the first three years of a four-year study, plasma samples drawn from these infants were shipped to Abbott Laboratories in Chicago and assayed using the Ferrizyme immunoassay technique (Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois). For the last year of the study, we analyzed the remaining samples in St. John's using the radioimmunoassay GammaDab125 I Kit (Baxter Travenol Diagnostics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts). Both kit manufacturers report inter- and intra-assay variability of < or = 5%. Results for samples analyzed by the second method were higher than earlier results from infants of the same age with the same intakes of iron; thus, we decided to analyze subsequent samples with both kits.