ferrokinetics

the turnover or rate of movement of iron in the body from plasma transferrin to erythrocyte precursors in the bone marrow to circulating erythrocytes to macrophages in the reticuloendothelial system and back to plasma transferrin. Ferrokinetic studies, using the radioisotope iron-59 as a tracer, measure kinetic parameters (plasma iron clearance half-time, plasma iron turnover, red cell utilization, and erythrocyte iron turnover) helpful in evaluating certain anemias and in detecting abnormal iron storage or extramedullary hematopoiesis by external counting over the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.