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Disparity of serum transferrin receptor measurements among different assay methods

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 52, pages 801–804 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To highlight differences in the quantification of transferrin receptor (TfR) concentration (a reliable index of iron deficiency) between three different assay methods.

Design: Methods comparison of TfR measurements in ‘elevated’ and ‘normal’ human sera using the Ramco, Quantikine and ‘Lab’ assays.

Setting: The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Subjects: Pooled TfR for elevated and normal human sera obtained from the Ramco TfR assay kit.

Main outcome measures: Differences between TfR concentrations in normal and elevated samples and repeatability for each assay method and limits of agreement in TfR quantification between assay methods.

Results: The mean TfR concentrations for the elevated reference serum samples was higher than the normal reference samples within each individual assay (P<0.001); however, measurement agreement between methods was poor.

Conclusions: Recognition of the relative differences in the values obtained from each of the assays should affect the interpretation of TfR concentration as an index of iron deficiency.

Sponsorship: This research was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ontario.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    GS Yeung & SH Zlotkin

  2. Division of Gastroenterology/Nutrition, Toronto, Canada

    GS Yeung, JC Kjarsgaard & SH Zlotkin

  3. Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada

    GS Yeung, JC Kjarsgaard & SH Zlotkin

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    SH Zlotkin

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  1. GS Yeung
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  2. JC Kjarsgaard
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  3. SH Zlotkin
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Yeung, G., Kjarsgaard, J. & Zlotkin, S. Disparity of serum transferrin receptor measurements among different assay methods. Eur J Clin Nutr 52, 801–804 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600650

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1600650

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