title: Long-term stability of biomarkers of the iron status in human serum and plasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In epidemiological research, it is very important to test the stability of biomarkers as function of both storage time and temperature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the stability of biomarkers of the iron status was tested up to 1 year of storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The biomarkers include total iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, ferritin, transferrin, soluble transferrin receptor, ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of all biomarkers tested remain constant upon storage at -20, -70 and -196 °C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All biomarkers of the iron status were stable at the temperatures tested for 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Protection, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands. eugene.jansen@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Eugène H J M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Piet K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Beekhof
authors.forename: Erna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schenk
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006242:Haptoglobins; D011990:Receptors, Transferrin; D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron; D002570:Ceruloplasmin