IMMUNORADIOMETRIC AND ELECTROIMMUNO ASSAY OF INCREASED FERRITIN AND APOFERRITIN LEVELS IN SERUM

Ferritin in serum from patients with increased serum ferritin levels has been studied both quantitatively and qualitatively. All techniques utilized in these studies are suitable to be used as routine screening tests for large numbers of patients. Electroimmuno assay (EIA) has been compared with the solid phase immuno-radiometric (IRMA) assay as a technique to determine serum ferritin concentration (r = 0.99) and is suggested as a useful, alternative when determining ferritin concentrations above 500 μg/l. Iron stained EIA gels have been used to indicate the iron content of the ferritin molecule in sera. This simple screening test has demonstrated that apoferritin is found more often than iron-rich ferritin in the serum of patients with elevated serum ferritin levels. Immunoelectrophoresis precipitin bands suggest the heterogeneity of ferritin in serum from different patients. © 1979 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.