Use of an alumina column in estimating total iron-binding capacity

Abstract

A simple, rapid technique for saturating the transferrin in serum and then removing unbound (excess) iron is described. This technique involves use of an easily prepared column of basic chromatographic alumina and a saturating solution of ferric chloride in citric acid. This method, when compared with the magnesium carbonate method of Ramsay (Clin. Chim. Acta 2: 221, 1957) by regresssion analysis and tests of precision, showed a negative bias for results by the alumina technique with respect to the magnesium carbonate method.