Das, SheilaPhilip, Kandathil Joseph2008-01-182009-05-292008-01-182009-05-292008-01-18Das S, Philip KJ. Evaluation of iron status: zinc protoporphyrin vis-a-vis bone marrow iron stores. Indian Journal of Pathology & Microbiology. 2008 Jan-Mar; 51(1): 105-7http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/74728Zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) in the red cells is an indicator of iron status in the bone marrow (BM) and can be easily measured by Protofluor-Z Hematofluorometer from Helena Laboratories. It is well known that bone marrow iron is a gold standard for the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) even in the pre-latent phase. Hence, it was considered pertinent to evaluate the diagnostic utility of ZPP in comparison with bone marrow iron stores. 107 random BM were selected over a period of 2(1/2) years; in each case, RBC indices where recorded along with ZPP and Perls' Prussian blue reaction for BM iron stores. The specificity and sensitivity were found to be 77.8% and sensitivity 69.8%, respectively. However, the sensitivity increased up to 96.2% when Hb, RBC indices and ZPP were considered for the diagnosis of IDA.engAnemia, Iron-Deficiency --diagnosisBone Marrow --chemistryHumansIron --analysisProtoporphyrins --bloodSensitivity and SpecificityEvaluation Studies