Dried blood spot technology helps identify iron deficiency

Results of a review of studies conducted between 1960 and 1983 pegged the global prevalence of anemia at 30%. Findings also indicated that determining iron-deficiency anemia could be correlated with measuring serum ferritin and transferrin receptor in dried blood spots. Moreover, results showed that ferritin concentration in dried blood samples is threefold higher than serum assays because of is release from hemolyzed erythrocytes.