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J. David Bessman, MD; Suzanne McClure, MD, MPH
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston

JAMA. 1991;266(12):1649.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.

— Iron deficiency is a common disorder in ambulatory subjects.^1,2 While most such subjects are neither anemic nor symptomatic, even

early iron deficiency reflects abnormal blood loss (usually due to bleeding) that requires medical attention. To screen such subjects for early iron deficiency rapidly, inexpensively, and accurately, serum transferrin saturation or ferritin values are too expensive.

Since an isolated high red cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to precede other blood count abnormalities during development of iron deficiency,³ we studied the value of the automated blood cell count as a screening instrument in 783 unselected asymptomatic outpatient adult volunteers (57% women, 81% white, 19% black). Simultaneous serum ferritin, folate, and vitamin B₁₂ levels were determined. The blood cell count was determined on a Coulter Counter S-Plus Sr (Coulter Electronics, Hialeah, Fla).⁴ Iron deficiency was defined as a serum ferritin level of less . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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