Iron (Fe)

CPT: 83540

Expected Turnaround Time

24 Hours

Turnaround time is defined as the usual number of days from the date of pickup of a specimen for testing to when the result is released to the ordering provider. In some cases, additional time should be allowed for additional confirmatory or additional reflex tests. Testing schedules may vary.

Specimen Requirements

Specimen

Serum, Plasma

Container

SST (Serum), Red Top (Separate Serum), Lithium Heparin (Plasma)

Storage Instructions

Room Temp., Refrigerated (2-8 C)

Stability Requirements

Room temp. 72 hrs., Refrigerated 7 days

Test Details

Additional Information

Iron is an essential nutrient that, among other functions, is required to produce healthy red blood cells (RBCs). It is a critical part of hemoglobin, the protein in RBCs that binds oxygen in the lungs and releases it as blood circulates to other parts of the body. Iron is also needed for energy, good muscle, and organ function. 

About 70% of the body’s iron is bound to hemoglobin in red blood cells. The rest is bound to other proteins, such as transferrin or ferritin, or stored in body tissues. When red bloodstream cells die, their iron is released and carried by transferrin to the bone marrow and to other organs such as the liver and spleen. Iron is stored in bone marrow and used as needed to make new red bloodstream cells. 

The body cannot produce iron and must absorb it from the foods we eat or from supplements. Once absorbed, it is transported throughout the body by binding to transferrin, a protein produced by the liver. The body needs more iron at times of growth (such as during adolescence), for pregnancy, during breastfeeding, or at times when there are low levels of iron in the body (such as after bleeding). 

The serum iron test measures the amount of iron in the liquid portion of the blood. Serum iron is almost always measured with other iron tests, such as serum ferritin, transferrin, TIBC, unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC), and transferrin saturation (%). These tests are often ordered simultaneously, and the results are interpreted together to help diagnose and/or monitor iron deficiency or overload. 

  

References: 

  1. Abbaspour N, Hurrell R, Kelishadi R. Review on iron and its importance for human health. J Res Med Sci. 2014 Feb;19(2):164-74. PMID: 24778671; PMCID: PMC3999603. 
  2. Ramanathan G, Olynyk JK, Ferrari P. Diagnosing and preventing iron overload. Hemodial Int. 2017 Jun;21 Suppl 1:S58-S67. doi: 10.1111/hdi.12555. Epub 2017 Mar 22. PMID: 28328144. 

Footnotes

Statement on Medical Necessity
All ordered tests should be medically necessary for the diagnosis or detection of disease, illness, impairment, symptom, syndrome, or disorder and the results should be used in the medical management and treatment decisions for the patient. Solaris requires ICD-10 codes with each order for lab testing and both the tests ordered and the diagnosis should be documented in the provider’s medical record for the patient. The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, takes the position that a provider who orders medically unnecessary tests may be subject to civil penalties.

Panels and Profiles
Solaris offers Providers the convenience of ordering test combinations in a group at times with the flexibility to choose appropriate test(s) for individual patients. Providers should only order those tests that he or she believes are medically necessary for each patient, and a lesser inclusive profile or individual tests should be ordered if not all tests in the test combination/profile are medically necessary. All tests offered in a test combination/profile may be ordered separately as individual tests. Solaris encourages clients to contact their Solaris representative if the testing configurations shown do not meet individual needs for any reason, or if some other combination of procedures is needed.

CPT Codes
CPT Codes listed are in accordance with Current Procedural Terminology, a publication of the American Medical Association. CPT codes are the responsibility of the billing party and are listed here for informational purposes. Correct coding may vary from one carrier to another. Solaris may bill specific carriers using codes other than what is shown.

Questions?

For questions or inquiries related to testing please reach out to
customerservice@solarisdx.com or contact us by phone at (844) 550-0308.