METHOD FOR MEASURING TOTAL BODY TISSUE IRON STORES

摘要

A non-invasive method to measure total body tissue iron stores comprising recovering iron released from total ferritin contained in a body fluid sample derived from a host, measuring the ferritin-iron in the total ferritin and thereby determining total body tissue iron stores. Such an assay is utilized for diagnosing negative iron balance as well as positive iron balance, wherein the latter promotes cancer, coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, and hepatic failure among other diseases, as well as the susceptibility to such diseases.