Iron, liver tissue-994

Test info

  
Iron, liver tissue
  
994
  
LAB994
  
MSO
  
Hemochromatosis
Hepatic iron index
Hepatic Iron Concentration
Fe
Total Iron, Liver tissue
  

The diagnosis of hemochromatosis using liver tissue specimens

Specimen

  
Liver tissue biopsy
  
2 mg
  

Two mg of liver tissue is required.

  • This is typically a piece of tissue from a 22-gauge needle biopsy at least 2 cm long
  • If an 18-gauge needle is used, the tissue must be at least 1 cm in length
  

Mayo Metal Free Specimen Vial (T173)

Any specimen container other than a Mayo metal-free vial used should be plastic, leached with 10% nitric acid for 2 days, rinsed with redistilled water, and dried in clean air.

  
2mm x 2 mm (punch) 0.3 mg by dry weight
  

Paraffin block if not more than 1-2 cuts have been made to it for slides.

  • Paraffin blocks will be returned 3 days after analysis
  

Refrigerated (preferred)

Frozen (OK)

Ambient (OK)

  
  • All specimens will be evaluated at Mayo Clinic Laboratories for test suitability

Performance

  
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (FET/8350): R-NX
  
Mo, Th
  
3 - 6 days
  

Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Clinical and Interpretive info

  

Iron

Male: 200 - 2,400 µg/g dry weight
Female: 200 - 1,800 µg/g dry weight

Iron index

<13 years: Not established

≥13 years: < 1.0 µmol/g/year

  

A hepatic iron concentration above 10,000 mcg/g dry weight is diagnostic for hemochromatosis.

Hepatic iron concentrations above 3000 mcg/g are seen when there is iron overload without cellular injury and cirrhosis. Hepatic iron concentrations greater than the reference range are associated with hemosiderosis, thalassemia, and sideroblastic anemia. Some patients with hepatitis or cirrhosis without significant fibrosis will have hepatic iron concentrations at the top end of normal or just slightly above the normal range.

Billing

  
83540

Tracking

  
12/06/2004
  
12/27/2023
  
12/27/2023