Clinical Information

Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and may be elevated in patients with inflammation, liver disease, chronic infection, autoimmune disorders, and malignancy. Ferritin may be elevated in excess iron storage disorders besides hemochromatosis including hemolytic anemia, sideroblastic anemia, and in those with multiple blood transfusions. For assays employing antibodies, the possibility exists for interference by human anti-animal antibodies (i.e., heterophile antibodies) in the patient sample. Patients who have been regularly exposed to animals or have received immunotherapy or diagnostic procedures utilizing immunoglobulins or immunoglobulin fragments may produce antibodies, (eg, HAMA), that interfere with immunoassays. This may falsely elevate or falsely decrease the results.