Test Catalog

Test Id : TRSF

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Transferrin, Serum

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Overview

Test Catalog

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Evaluation of iron overload diseases

 

Evaluation of iron deficiency as a cause of anemia

Method Name
A short description of the method used to perform the test

Immunoturbidimetric Assay

NY State Available
Indicates the status of NY State approval and if the test is orderable for NY State clients.

Yes

Reporting Name
Lists a shorter or abbreviated version of the Published Name for a test

Transferrin, S

Aliases
Lists additional common names for a test, as an aid in searching

Transferrin (Iron Binding Protein)

TRSF

Specimen Type
Describes the specimen type validated for testing

Serum

Specimen Required
Defines the optimal specimen required to perform the test and the preferred volume to complete testing

Supplies: Sarstedt Aliquot Tube, 5 mL (T914)

Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 1 mL

Collection Instructions:

1. Within 2 hours of collection, centrifuge the specimen.

2. For serum gel tubes, aliquot serum into a plastic vial prior to shipment.

3. For red-top tubes, aliquot the serum into a plastic vial immediately after centrifuging.

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Benign Hematology Test Request Form (T755) with the specimen.

Specimen Minimum Volume
Defines the amount of sample necessary to provide a clinically relevant result as determined by the testing laboratory. The minimum volume is sufficient for one attempt at testing.

0.5 mL

Reject Due To
Identifies specimen types and conditions that may cause the specimen to be rejected

Gross hemolysis Reject
Gross lipemia OK
Gross icterus OK

Specimen Stability Information
Provides a description of the temperatures required to transport a specimen to the performing laboratory, alternate acceptable temperatures are also included

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Ambient 7 days
Refrigerated (preferred) 7 days
Frozen 180 days

Useful For
Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful

Evaluation of iron overload diseases

 

Evaluation of iron deficiency as a cause of anemia

Clinical Information
Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test

Transferrin is the primary plasma iron transport protein, which binds iron strongly at physiological pH. It is a glycoprotein with an approximate molecular weight of 80 kDa, consisting of a polypeptide strand with two N-glycosidically linked oligosaccharide chains with two homologous binding sites for ferric (Fe 3+) iron serving to keep iron nonreactive in circulation and deliver it to cells with transferrin receptors.

 

The rate of transferrin synthesis in the liver can be altered according to the body's iron requirements and iron reserves. The circulating concentration increases in response to iron deficiency and decreases in response to iron overload. Transferrin concentration also depends on liver function and nutritional status. It also acts as a negative acute phase reactant, decreasing in concentration in the presence of inflammation; however, it has a minor intraindividual biologic variation of 5%. Transferrin is generally only 25% to 30% saturated with iron. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) can be estimated from transferrin concentration using the molecular weight of the transferrin and accounting that 1 transferrin molecule can bind 2 atoms of iron.(1)

 

The degree of iron saturation is a more useful indicator of functional iron depletion or overload than transferrin concentration alone. Serum iron, TIBC, and percent saturation are widely used for the diagnosis of iron deficiency and hemochromatosis. However, serum ferritin is a much more sensitive and reliable test for demonstration of iron deficiency. Soluble transferrin receptor performs similarly and is unaffected by inflammation. Reticulocyte hemoglobin has also been used as a sensitive early indicator of iron deficiency and anemia.

Reference Values
Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.

200-360 mg/dL

Interpretation
Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results

Transferrin concentrations are elevated in anemia of chronic disease and iron overload conditions.(1)

 

Transferrin concentrations are decreased in iron deficiency, iron deficiency anemia, and iron-refractory iron deficiency anemia.(1)

Cautions
Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances

An elevated transferrin may also occur in pregnancy and with the use of oral contraceptives.

 

A low transferrin may also occur due to malnutrition, inflammation, liver disease, or nephrotic syndrome.

Clinical Reference
Recommendations for in-depth reading of a clinical nature

1. Swinkels DW. Iron metabolism. In: Rifai N, Chiu RWK, Young I, Burnham CD, Wittwer CT, eds. Tietz Textbook of Laboratory Medicine. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2023:chap 40

2. Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Iron deficiency anaemia. Lancet. 2016;387(10021):907-916

Method Description
Describes how the test is performed and provides a method-specific reference

Human transferrin forms a precipitate with a specific antiserum, which is determined turbidimetrically.(Package insert: TRSF2 reagent. Roche Diagnostics; v10.0, 04/2022)

PDF Report
Indicates whether the report includes an additional document with charts, images or other enriched information

No

Day(s) Performed
Outlines the days the test is performed. This field reflects the day that the sample must be in the testing laboratory to begin the testing process and includes any specimen preparation and processing time before the test is performed. Some tests are listed as continuously performed, which means that assays are performed multiple times during the day.

Monday through Sunday

Report Available
The interval of time (receipt of sample at Mayo Clinic Laboratories to results available) taking into account standard setup days and weekends. The first day is the time that it typically takes for a result to be available. The last day is the time it might take, accounting for any necessary repeated testing.

Same day/1 to 3 days

Specimen Retention Time
Outlines the length of time after testing that a specimen is kept in the laboratory before it is discarded

7 days

Performing Laboratory Location
Indicates the location of the laboratory that performs the test

Rochester

Fees
Several factors determine the fee charged to perform a test. Contact your U.S. or International Regional Manager for information about establishing a fee schedule or to learn more about resources to optimize test selection.

  • Authorized users can sign in to Test Prices for detailed fee information.
  • Clients without access to Test Prices can contact Customer Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • Prospective clients should contact their account representative. For assistance, contact Customer Service.

Test Classification
Provides information regarding the medical device classification for laboratory test kits and reagents. Tests may be classified as cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and used per manufacturer instructions, or as products that do not undergo full FDA review and approval, and are then labeled as an Analyte Specific Reagent (ASR) product.

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information
Provides guidance in determining the appropriate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code(s) information for each test or profile. The listed CPT codes reflect Mayo Clinic Laboratories interpretation of CPT coding requirements. It is the responsibility of each laboratory to determine correct CPT codes to use for billing.

CPT codes are provided by the performing laboratory.

84466

LOINC® Information
Provides guidance in determining the Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) values for the order and results codes of this test. LOINC values are provided by the performing laboratory.

Test Id Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
TRSF Transferrin, S 3034-6
Result Id Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
TRSF Transferrin, S 3034-6

Test Setup Resources

Setup Files
Test setup information contains test file definition details to support order and result interfacing between Mayo Clinic Laboratories and your Laboratory Information System.

Excel | Pdf

Sample Reports
Normal and Abnormal sample reports are provided as references for report appearance.

Normal Reports | Abnormal Reports

SI Sample Reports
International System (SI) of Unit reports are provided for a limited number of tests. These reports are intended for international account use and are only available through MayoLINK accounts that have been defined to receive them.

SI Normal Reports | SI Abnormal Reports

Test Update Resources

Change Type Effective Date
Test Changes - Specimen Information 2025-03-13