Patent ID: 7601684

Claim:
A method for classifying iron status of a patient and treating the patient in need of treatment, the method comprising: (a) determining a level of each of the following in one or more samples from a patient: (i) ferritin, (ii) sTfR, (iii) CRP, and (iv) optionally CHr or MCH; (b) plotting sTfR/log ferritin on a first axis of a plot and CRP on a second axis of the plot, the plot divided into quadrants, the quadrants defining specific iron status classifications of: (A) iron distribution disorders or/and iron utilization disorders with acute phase reaction, (B) iron overloading, (C) normal iron status, and (D) deficiency of storage iron; (c) determining the iron status classification of the patient; and (d) treating a patient having the iron status classifications A, B, or D.