transferrin receptor in serum

Reference interval

0.85-3.05 mg/L

Principle

• soluble forms of transferrin are released into the blood
• serum levels of transferrin reflect the amount of membranous transferrin, which is inversely related to iron stores
• serum levels of transferrin receptor increase with iron-deficiency, but not with inflammatory disorders

Clinical significance

• when used in conjunction with serum ferritin provides sensitive indicator of iron-deficiency, including elderly patients (transferrin is not an acute phase reactant)
• serum transferrin receptor (mg/L)/log serum ferritin (ng/mL) of > 1.5 is considered diagnostic or iron deficiency
• also elevated levels with erythroid proliferation

Increases

• iron deficiency
• thalassemia
• hemolytic anemia
• polycythemia

Decreases

• aplastic anemia
• chronic renal failure

Methods

• sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using polyclonal antibody

More general terms

• special chemistry test

More specific terms

• transferrin receptor, soluble in serum

Additional terms

• CD71; transferrin receptor 1; TfR1; TfR; TR; Trfr; T9; p90; sTfR (TFRC)
• ferritin in serum/plasma
• iron-deficiency anemia