LIMITATIONS OF THE FERRITIN TEST FOR DIAGNOSING IDA. During a fever, a doctor recommends a ferritin test during an online consultation because the MCHC level is low. 📢REMEMBER! In the presence of inflammation, ferritin will not show true iron deficiency. Although serum ferritin is an excellent test for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia (including latent iron deficiency), it is not recommended to perform it during an inflammatory reaction. Ferritin is an acute phase protein of inflammation. And if MCHC decreases during a fever, it is quite likely due to the blockage of iron stores utilization by erythropoietic cells – the pathogenesis of anemia of chronic disease. Although iron stores (ferritin) may even be higher than needed. Do you agree? And how would you explain the increase in MCV in this case?
Ferritin Test Limitations in Inflammation and Fever
Why you shouldn't test ferritin during fever and inflammation: the role of acute phase proteins, and changes in MCV and MCHC indices in anemia of chronic disease.
