0.05).There was no significant variations of the parameters of newborns according to different levels of maternal serum ferritin. It has been shown that the iron status of mother does not affect the iron status of the infant. Fetus can draw enough iron to satisfy its need for growth and development, and this may cause iron deficiency in the mother. So, prophylaxis of iron deficiency during pregnancy is indicated.

The therapeutic trial of iron on 114 preschool children was studied. Before and after the trial, the iron status of the children was determined by measuring hemoglobin, free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, the ratio of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin/hemoglobin, serum iron, transferrin, transferria saturation, and serum ferritin. All of the children were given a two-month course of ferrous sulfate (4mg iron/kg/ day orally). The iron status of 4 years age group was superior to the 1-4 years group before the therapeutic trial. But after the trial, the iron status of these two groups was very significantly improved, all of the parameters of each group reached at the same levels. Those children with mean value of hemoglobin 3?g/g had good response. Of the 114 children 70 were iron deficient (61.4%), 83 had an increase in venous hemoglobin greater than 0.5g/dl after the trial (72.8%). Since the therapeutic trial is more economical and simpler so we favor to give the trial among the preschool children whose hemoglobin is below 12g/dl and/ or free erythrocyte protophyrin/hemoglobin ratio greater than 3?g/g, in order to avoid missing the iron-responsive individuals.

3,= 4, the sensitivity and specificity in predicting response before iron administration were 77.4, 47.5; 71.7, 75.4; 52.8, 90.2; 18.9, 96.7 respectively. Both sensitivity and specificity were higher in two parameters combined, so that the two parameters combined to screen iron deficiency would be better. Because both sensitivity and specificity were higher in Hb and FEP/Hb, so we prefer Hb and FEP measurement for screening iron deficiency.