Diagnosis of anemia and iron deficiency: analytic and biological variations of laboratory tests. 1984

P R Dallman

We describe the magnitude of analytic errors and the within-subject biological variations for laboratory tests that are used in the diagnosis of anemia and iron deficiency. For Hb, hematocrit, and red cell indices, coefficients of variation for analytic and biological variations are less than 4%. In general, higher coefficients of variation are characteristic of serum iron, iron-binding capacity, serum ferritin, and erythrocyte protoporphyrin. Particularly high analytic variations between different laboratories have been described for iron-binding capacity and the greatest biological variations have been noted for serum iron. An awareness of these sources of error is helpful in designing studies and in interpreting laboratory results.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007501 Iron A metallic element with atomic symbol Fe, atomic number 26, and atomic weight 55.85. It is an essential constituent of HEMOGLOBINS; CYTOCHROMES; and IRON-BINDING PROTEINS. It plays a role in cellular redox reactions and in the transport of OXYGEN. Iron-56,Iron 56
D011524 Protoporphyrins Porphyrins with four methyl, two vinyl, and two propionic acid side chains attached to the pyrrole rings. Protoporphyrin IX occurs in hemoglobin, myoglobin, and most of the cytochromes.
D004909 Erythrocyte Indices ERYTHROCYTE size and HEMOGLOBIN content or concentration, usually derived from ERYTHROCYTE COUNT; BLOOD hemoglobin concentration; and HEMATOCRIT. The indices include the mean corpuscular volume (MCV), the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Erythrocyte Hemoglobin, Mean Cell,Erythrocyte Size Determination,Erythrocyte Volume, Mean Cell,Hemoglobin, Erythrocyte, Mean Cell,Mean Corpuscular Volume,Red Cell Indices,Erythrocyte Diameter,Erythrocyte Index,Erythrocyte Indexes,Erythrocyte Thickness,Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration,Mean Cell Volume,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobulin Concentration,Red Cell Distribution Width,Red Cell Index,Red Cell Indexes,Cell Volumes, Mean,Corpuscular Volumes, Mean,Determination, Erythrocyte Size,Determinations, Erythrocyte Size,Diameter, Erythrocyte,Diameters, Erythrocyte,Erythrocyte Diameters,Erythrocyte Size Determinations,Hemoglobin, Mean Corpuscular,Hemoglobins, Mean Corpuscular,Index, Erythrocyte,Index, Red Cell,Indexes, Erythrocyte,Indexes, Red Cell,Indices, Erythrocyte,Indices, Red Cell,Mean Cell Volumes,Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobins,Mean Corpuscular Volumes,Size Determination, Erythrocyte,Size Determinations, Erythrocyte,Thickness, Erythrocyte,Volume, Mean Cell,Volume, Mean Corpuscular,Volumes, Mean Cell,Volumes, Mean Corpuscular
D004912 Erythrocytes Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN. Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D005293 Ferritins Iron-containing proteins that are widely distributed in animals, plants, and microorganisms. Their major function is to store IRON in a nontoxic bioavailable form. Each ferritin molecule consists of ferric iron in a hollow protein shell (APOFERRITINS) made of 24 subunits of various sequences depending on the species and tissue types. Basic Isoferritin,Ferritin,Isoferritin,Isoferritin, Basic
D006400 Hematocrit The volume of packed RED BLOOD CELLS in a blood specimen. The volume is measured by centrifugation in a tube with graduated markings, or with automated blood cell counters. It is an indicator of erythrocyte status in disease. For example, ANEMIA shows a low value; POLYCYTHEMIA, a high value. Erythrocyte Volume, Packed,Packed Red-Cell Volume,Erythrocyte Volumes, Packed,Hematocrits,Packed Erythrocyte Volume,Packed Erythrocyte Volumes,Packed Red Cell Volume,Packed Red-Cell Volumes,Red-Cell Volume, Packed,Red-Cell Volumes, Packed,Volume, Packed Erythrocyte,Volume, Packed Red-Cell,Volumes, Packed Erythrocyte,Volumes, Packed Red-Cell
D006403 Hematologic Tests Tests used in the analysis of the hemic system. Blood Tests,Hematologic Test,Hematological Tests,Test, Hematologic,Tests, Hematologic,Blood Test,Hematological Test,Test, Blood,Test, Hematological,Tests, Blood,Tests, Hematological
D006452 Hemoglobinometry Measurement of hemoglobin concentration in blood. Hemoglobinometries
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000090463 Iron Deficiencies Deficient amounts of iron in the body as a result of blood loss, diets deficient in iron, or an iron uptake or storage disorder. Hypoferritinemia,Iron Deficiency,Latent Iron Deficiency,Sideropenia,Deficiencies, Iron,Deficiencies, Latent Iron,Deficiency, Iron,Deficiency, Latent Iron,Hypoferritinemias,Iron Deficiencies, Latent,Iron Deficiency, Latent,Latent Iron Deficiencies,Sideropenias

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