What is ferritin?
Ferritin is the protein which stores iron in human body.
The body absorbs iron from food. The absorbed iron is primarily used for red blood cell production, while the remaining iron is stored as ferritin in liver, spleen, and muscles etc.
Iron is very important to the way the body works.
The change of ferritin levels
Different medical conditions could lead to different serum ferritin levels in human body.
The role of serum ferritin in COVID-19
There are many studies on COVID-19 which indicate elevated levels of ferritin as compared in severe and non-severe patients. It has been concluded that serum ferritin levels are closely related to the severity of COVID-19.
Thus, hyperferritinemia has been associated with increased illness severity and adverse outcomes in COVID-19.
Ferritin blood test
To monitor a clinical condition, a ferritin test may be used to guide treatment.
A ferritin blood test is a simple procedure to measure the levels of ferritin in the blood. It helps doctors to understand how much iron the body is storing, and to find out if the body has the right amount of iron to stay healthy. Having too much or too little can cause serious health problems if left untreated.
What might lead to a ferritin test?
If a ferritin test reveals that the blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates that the body’s iron stores are low, and that there is an iron deficiency. Without enough iron, a person could develop anemia.
If the ferritin test reveals that the ferritin level is higher than normal, it may indicate that a condition is present that causes the body to store too much iron.
Combined with these symptoms and other conditions, doctors may order a ferritin test for diagnostic and treatment guidance.
Mindray Ferritin Assay
Mindray provides a high quality assay kit to support the ferritin serum test with great efficiency.
References:
[1] "Ferritin in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19): A systematic review and meta‐analysis." Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis (2020).
[2] Mea, B , C. Js , and B. Cpa . "Iron: Innocent bystander or vicious culprit in COVID-19 pathogenesis?." International Journal of Infectious Diseases 97(2020):303-305.
[3] Bataille, S. , N. Pedinielli , and J. P. Bergougnioux . "Could ferritin help the screening for COVID-19 in hemodialysis patients?." Kidney International 98.1(2020).
[4] Tang, J. W. , et al. "Comparing hospitalised, community and staff COVID-19 infection rates during the early phase of the evolving COVID-19 epidemic." Journal of Infection (2020).
