TABLE 11.
Available reference materials and proficiency testing programs for iron status indicators1
| Indicator | Reference materials | Selected list of PT8 programs |
|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin | NIBSC IS 98/708 (dilute solution of hemiglobincyanide produced from bovine blood; 49.8 µmol/L [803.3 mg/L]; consensus value) | CAP Hematology and Clinical Microscopy Survey |
| Serum iron | NIST SRM 937 (iron metal); NIST SRM 3126A (iron standard solution) | CAP Chemistry Survey and Cal V/L Survey; UK NEQAS |
| Serum ferritin | NIBSC RM 94/572 (human plasma, freeze-dried; recombinant; 6.3 µg/ampoule; consensus value) | CAP Chemistry Survey and Cal V/L Survey; UK NEQAS |
| Serum soluble transferrin receptor | NIBSC RR 07/202 (human serum, freeze-dried; recombinant; 21.7 mg/L and 303 nmol/L [free sTfR monomer]; gravimetric/spectrophotometric value assignment) | CAP Soluble Transferrin Receptor Survey |
1Reference materials found online (577, 578). Cal V/L, Calibration Verification and Linearity Survey; CAP, College of American Pathologists; IS, international standard; NIST, National Institute of Standards and Technology; PT, proficiency testing; RM, reference material; RR, round robin; SRM, standard reference material; sTfR, serum transferrin receptor; UK NEQAS, United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service. Adapted with permission from reference 579.