Bleomycin‐detectable iron in the plasma of premature and full‐term neonates

The bleomycin assay measures non‐transferrin‐bound iron, able to catalyze free radical reactions, in human plasma. No bleomycin‐detectable iron is present in plasma from healthy adults. However, plasma from 3/15 premature babies was positive in this assay. Plasma from 52 apparently‐healthy term babies was analyzed and 11 were positive in the bleomycin assay. Hence not only some premature but also some full‐term apparently‐healthy babies may be at risk of severe oxidative damage.