Soluble Transferrin Receptor

CPT: 84238
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Synonyms

  • sTfR
  • Transferrin Receptor

Expected Turnaround Time

2 - 3 days


Related Documents


Specimen Requirements


Specimen

Serum or plasma


Volume

0.5 mL


Minimum Volume

0.2 mL (Note: This volume does not allow for repeat testing.)


Container

Red-top tube, green-top (sodium or lithium heparin) tube, or lavender-top (EDTA) tube


Collection

Separate serum or plasma from cells and transfer to a plastic transport tube.


Storage Instructions

Refrigerate.


Stability Requirements

Temperature

Period

Room temperature

14 days

Refrigerated

14 days

Frozen

14 days

Freeze/thaw cycles

Stable x3


Causes for Rejection

Gross hemolysis; use of yellow-top tube


Test Details


Use

Measurement of sTfR is used to diagnose iron deficiency in individuals with chronic disease (inflammatory diseases, infections, malignancies), many of whom are anemic.


Methodology

Immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA)


Reference Interval

12.2−27.3 nmol/L


Additional Information

Anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia, the most common forms of anemia, are differentiated primarily by estimates of iron status. Standard measures of iron status, such as ferritin, total iron-binding capacity, and serum iron are directly affected by chronic disease. In contrast, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) is elevated in iron deficiency but is not appreciably affected by chronic disease. sTfR is elevated in subjects with hyperplastic erythropoiesis (eg, hemolytic anemia, beta-thalassemia, polycythemia, etc) and depressed in subjects with hypoplastic erythropoiesis (eg, chronic renal failure, aplastic anemia, or post-transplant anemia). Transferrin receptor (TfR) is the major mediator of iron uptake by cells. TfR is a transmembrane, disulfide-linked dimer of two identical subunits that binds and internalizes diferric transferrin, thereby delivering iron to the cell cytosol. When a cell needs iron, TfR expression is increased to facilitate iron uptake. Since the major use of iron is for hemoglobin synthesis, about 80% of total TfR is on erythroid progenitor cells. Soluble transferrin receptor arises from proteolysis of the intact protein on the cell surface, leading to monomers that can be measured in plasma and serum. Thus, the concentration of sTfR in plasma or serum is an indirect measure of total TfR. The serum level of sTfR reflects either the cellular need for iron or the rate of erythropoiesis. The concentration of sTfR in plasma or serum is elevated in iron deficiency. The concentration of sTfR in plasma or serum is correlated with erythron transferrin uptake, a ferrokinetic measure of erythropoietic activity.


References

Allen J, Backstrom KR, Cooper JA, et al. Measurement of soluble transferrin receptor in serum of healthy adults. Clin Chem. 1998 Jan; 44(1):35-39. 9550555
Khumalo H, Gomo ZA, Moyo VM, et al. Serum transferrin receptors are decreased in the presence of iron overload. Clin Chem. 1998 Jan; 44(1):40-44. 9550556
Mast AE, Blinder MA, Gronowski AM, Chumley C, Scott MG. Clinical utility of the soluble transferrin receptor and comparison with serum ferritin in several populations. Clin Chem. 1998 Jan; 44(1):45-51. 9550557
Skikne BS. Circulating transferrin receptor assay—coming of age. Clin Chem. 1998 Jan; 44(1):7-9. 9550551

LOINC® Map

Order Code Order Code Name Order Loinc Result Code Result Code Name UofM Result LOINC
143305 Soluble Transferrin Receptor 33210-6 143307 Soluble Transferrin Receptor nmol/L 33210-6

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