Evaluation of a particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay for the measurement of ferritin: application to patients participating in an autologous blood transfusion program.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a turbidimetric immunoassay for the measurement of ferritin, and to assay this method in a group of patients undergoing an autologous blood transfusion program.


METHODS
We used an ILab 900 analyzer. This instrument automates a particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay with an analysis time of 9 min. This technique was compared with a microparticle immunoassay. The turbidimetric assay was used to measure ferritin in a group of 30 patients undergoing an autologous blood transfusion program.


RESULTS
The assay was linear in the range 3-1400 microg/L (r = 0.9999). The intra- and inter-assay imprecision (CV) at 20, 97 and 469 microg/L were <3.0 and <5.0%, respectively. Recovery was 88. 7 to 97.4%. The detection limit was 3 microg/L. Hemoglobin (</=4 g/L), mild hyperbilirubilinemia (bilirubin </=50 micromol/L), triglycerides (</=10 mmol/L) and myeloma paraproteins did not interfere with the assay. The assay showed good correlation with a microparticle enzymoimmunoassay (r = 0.994) with a mean difference between methods of -6 +/- 16 microg/L. This method was sensitive, accurate, and fast enough for an efficient follow-up of autologous blood transfusion patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The new automated serum assay for ferritin is an attractive alternative that avoids the need for dedicated instrumentation.
Centre de Recerca Biomèdica and Unitat de Medicina Transfusional, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Carrer Sant Joan s/n, 43201-Reus, Catalunya, Spain.
F
F
Gómez
J M
JM
Simó
J
J
Camps
X
X
Clivillé
N
N
Bertran
N
N
Ferré
C
C
Bofill
J
J
Joven
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009391:Nephelometry and Turbidimetry / Q000379:methods*; D012016:Reference Values
D005293:Ferritins