The effect of desferrioxamine on the colorimetric determination of iron in human serum and plasma.

The effect of a range of concentrations of desferrioxamine on a colorimetric determination of serum, or plasma, iron concentration is described. The method of iron estimation used was an autoanalyzer method using tripyridyltriazine as chromogen. There was found to be a small, reproducible diminution in the serum iron estimation in the presence of desferrioxamine. This was independent of the concentration of desferrioxamine. High serum concentrations of iron can be measured reproducibly in the presence of desferrioxamine after dilution of the serum with saline.