Population-based reference intervals for ferritin, iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation and prevalence of iron deficiency in 6–12-year-old children: the Health Oriented Pedagogical Project (HOPP)

Abstract

Appropriate reference intervals are important for correct interpretation of laboratory test results. The primary objective of the present study was to establish pediatric reference intervals for biochemical markers essential in the assessment of iron status. As a secondary objective we calculated the prevalence of iron deficiency according to WHO recommendations. Blood samples were obtained from 1355 healthy children 6–12 years of age participating in the Health Oriented Pedagogical Project (HOPP). For our primary objective, data from 1333 children were used to establish reference intervals for ferritin, iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation. Following the CLSI C28-A3 guidelines, the 2.5^th and 97.5^th percentiles with corresponding 90% confidence intervals, were estimated by the nonparametric method. None of the measured analytes required partitioning for age or sex. The prevalence of iron deficiency was 8.2%, which is higher than reported in other populations.

Keywords:

• Pediatrics
• children
• reference interval
• iron deficiency
• ferritin
• iron
• transferrin
• transferrin saturation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by Horten Municipality, Kristiania University College, The Norwegian Order of Odd Fellow Research Fund, the Oslofjord Regional Research Fund and the Norwegian Fund for Post-Graduate Training in Physiotherapy.