An immunoradiometric assay for ferritin in the serum of normal subjects and patients with iron deficiency and iron overload.

An immunoradiometric assay for human ferritin has been developed. Concentrations of ferritin in the serum of male and female controls and patients with iron deficiency and iron overload were measured.Male controls were found to have a significantly higher mean concentration of serum ferritin than females. Patients with iron deficiency had significantly lower levels than normals of either sex and patients with iron overload had greatly elevated serum ferritin concentrations. It is thought that the serum ferritin concentration may reflect the iron stores of the body.