Selection of iron metabolism tests in cases where iron deficiency is suspected

The French health insurance agency asked the HAS to determine strategies for the use of iron metabolism markers. In fact, the volume of procedures carried out in relation to all such tests which are reimbursed by the health insurance agency increased by 109% between 2000 and 2008. Furthermore, some tests appear to be redundant or irrelevant according to the latest French recommendations, (ANDEM, 1995). In this assessment, the HAS has focused on iron deficiency and has not looked at iron overloads, since professional recommendations issued by the HAS in 2005 on haemochromatosis still appear to be valid