Iron (Tissue)

Testing Laboratory

Auckland Te Toka Tumai | Auckland Hospital

Department

Chemical Pathology

Delphic Registration Code (Alpha Code)

LBFE

Test Code (Numeric Code)

3211

Laboratory Handling

Phlebotomy

A liver biopsy specimen at least 1 cm long is required.

Transport

It should be wrapped in clean, dust-free aluminium foil and placed in a plastic urine container and sent immediately to the laboratory. If there is likely to be a delay of more than 24 hours in delivering the sample to the laboratory it should be frozen and sent on ice.

Laboratory

LabPLUS Trace Metals

Sample Stability

Freeze immediately on arrival at LabPlus.
Once lyophylised - indefinite

Synonyms

Liver Biopsy - iron quantification, tissue iron

Turnaround Time

3 weeks

Specimen Type

  • Tissue

Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • Please refer to Additional Information below

Paediatric Specimen Requirements

Tube/Container Type:

Preferred
  • Please refer to Additional Information below

Pre-testing Requirements

Paraffin-embedded samples are not suitable.

Additional Specimen Information

A liver biopsy specimen at least 1 cm long is required.
It should be wrapped in clean, dust-free aluminium foil and placed in a plastic urine container for immediate transport to the laboratory. If there is likely to be a significant delay in delivering the sample to the laboratory, it should be frozen and sent on ice.

Last updated: 28/08/2026