Access® sTfR Index Doubles Detection of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Beckman Coulter, Inc. has announced the publication of positive results from the Access® sTfR Index pivotal clinical trial in the November issue of American Journal of Hematology.

Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are the most common forms of anemia and often occur concurrently. Standard serum ferritin assays can be affected by inflammation, delaying the diagnosis of patients who have inflammatory disease or infection.

A soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) test indicates iron deficiency and remains unaffected by chronic disease and inflammation. The Access® sTfR Index clinical trial assessed the diagnostic accuracy of a new automated sTfR assay and sTfR Index (sTfR/log ferritin). Tests were carried out using Beckman Coulter’s Access® immunoassay system, which allows users to run both sTfR and ferritin assays simultaneously on the same specimen and automatically obtain the sTfR Index.

Barry S. Skikne, MD, hematologist/oncologist and author of more than ninety journal articles and book chapters, is lead author of the article titled, “Improved differential diagnosis of anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia: A prospective multicenter evaluation of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) and the sTfR/log ferritin index (sTfR Index)¹.”

The study results showed that use of these combined tests more than doubled the detection of IDA, from 41 percent (ferritin alone) to 92 percent (ferritin, sTfR, sTfR Index).

“Our study results demonstrate that the addition of sTfR and sTfR Index to the serum ferritin measurement considerably improves detection of IDA, particularly in clinical situations where routine markers of iron status provide equivocal results that may delay diagnosis and therapeutic intervention,” said Dr. Skikne. “The availability of the sTfR assay and Index on an automated analyzer that is routinely used in hospital and free-standing clinical laboratories will significantly increase access to these tests.”

To access the article published in the American Journal of Hematology, please visit http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ajh.22108, or click on the company article page to the right of this article.

Sonia Nicholas, Clinical Diagnostics Editor

1. B. S. Skikne et al: Improved differential diagnosis of anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia: A prospective multicenter evaluation of soluble transferrin receptor and the sTfR/log ferritin index. American Journal of Hematology 2011; 86: 923–927. DOI: 10.1002/ajh.22108.