Preanalytical factors and reference intervals for serum hepcidin LC-MS/MS method.
BACKGROUND
Hepcidin is a potential biomarker for anemia of chronic diseases and disorders of iron metabolism. Thus, data of preanalytical factors, reference values and method characteristics are critical for clinical use of hepcidin determination.


METHODS
We studied the effects of sample storage, sampling device and a meal on hepcidin levels using a liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for serum hepcidin. Age- and gender-dependent reference values were determined using serum samples from healthy volunteers (n=231). The results were also compared with those obtained by a commercial competitive ELISA for hepcidin.


RESULTS
In serum samples, hepcidin is stable for one day at room temperature, six days at +4°C and at least 42 days at -20°C. Breakfast or type of sampling device does not affect hepcidin concentration. Significantly lower hepcidin concentrations were observed in women ≤50 than >50 years of age or in men (p<0.0001 for both). Reference values for females aged 18-50 years were 0.4-9.2 nmol/L, for those >50 years 0.7-16.8 nmol/L and for males ≥18 years 1.1-15.6 nmol/L. Comparison with a competitive ELISA showed poor correlation.


CONCLUSIONS
Fasting before sampling and type of blood collection were not critical. Samples can be transported to laboratory at room temperature if they arrive within a day. Significantly lower concentrations of serum hepcidin were observed in menstruating than in post-menopausal women and in men.
Department of Clinical Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. outi.itkonen@hus.fi
Outi
O
Itkonen
Jaakko
J
Parkkinen
Ulf-Håkan
UH
Stenman
Esa
E
Hämäläinen
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D064451:Hepcidins; D006801:Humans; D012015:Reference Standards; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C578702:HAMP protein, human; D064451:Hepcidins