Biomaterial Database

Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) I. Normal values for adults and evaluation of the hematofluorometer. 1983

W L Marsh, and D P Nelson, and H M Koenig

Since the early 1970s, measurement of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin (FEP) (by microextraction or by hematofluorometer) has been widely used to screen for lead poisoning and to evaluate microcytic red blood cell (RBC) disorders in children. However, published information on normal values for FEP, performance of the hematofluorometer, and usefulness of FEP in classifying microcytic RBC disorders in adults is scant. In an adult population with normal hematocrit and MCV and normal values for serum ferritin, blood lead level, and serum bilirubin, we obtained normal hematofluorometer FEP levels of less than 30 micrograms/dL for men, and less than 40 micrograms/dL levels for women. We have evaluated a hematofluorometer against a standard microextraction procedure and feel that the hematofluorometer is superior for clinical laboratories if elevated FEPs are confirmed by retesting with washed RBC. In the second part of this paper we demonstrate the usefulness of the FEP in classifying microcytic RBC disorders in adults.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007855	Lead Poisoning	Poisoning that results from chronic or acute ingestion, injection, inhalation, or skin absorption of LEAD or lead compounds.	Poisoning, Lead,Lead Poisonings,Poisonings, Lead
D008297	Male		Males
D011166	Porphyrins	A group of compounds containing the porphin structure, four pyrrole rings connected by methine bridges in a cyclic configuration to which a variety of side chains are attached. The nature of the side chain is indicated by a prefix, as uroporphyrin, hematoporphyrin, etc. The porphyrins, in combination with iron, form the heme component in biologically significant compounds such as hemoglobin and myoglobin.	Porphyrin
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.
D011786	Quality Control	A system for verifying and maintaining a desired level of quality in a product or process by careful planning, use of proper equipment, continued inspection, and corrective action as required. (Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed)	Control, Quality,Controls, Quality,Quality Controls
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D012156	Reticulocytes	Immature ERYTHROCYTES. In humans, these are ERYTHROID CELLS that have just undergone extrusion of their CELL NUCLEUS. They still contain some organelles that gradually decrease in number as the cells mature. RIBOSOMES are last to disappear. Certain staining techniques cause components of the ribosomes to precipitate into characteristic "reticulum" (not the same as the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM), hence the name reticulocytes.	Reticulocyte
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
D005260	Female		Females
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