AN IMPROVED SIMPLE COLORIMETRIC METHOD FOR QUANTITATION OF NON-TRANSFERRIN-BOUND IRON IN SERUM

A simple method for direct quantitation of non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) in serum is introduced. NTBI was separated from serum by adding excess nitrilotriacetic acid disodium salt (NTA) to serum to form an Fe-NTA complex and then ultrafiltrated using a micro-filter. The NTBI in the ultrafiltrate was quantitated using a bathophenanthroline-based method. The optimal detection condition and several potential confoun ding factors were investigated. The actual measurements to samples in vivo and in vitro showed that this method is very practical.