Iron is an essential mineral that
plays a crucial role in our body's
functioning. It is responsible for
the production of hemoglobin, a
protein that carries oxygen from
the lungs to different parts of the
body. Iron deficiency can lead to
anemia, a condition that can cause
fatigue, weakness, and other health
problems. To detect iron deficiency
or excess, doctors often recommend
iron tests. In this blog, we will
discuss what iron tests are, their
purpose, procedure, and results.
What is an Iron Test?
Iron tests are a set of blood tests
that measure the levels of iron,
ferritin, transferrin, and total
iron-binding capacity (TIBC) in the
blood. These tests help doctors
diagnose and monitor conditions
related to iron metabolism in the
body.
Purpose of Iron Tests
Iron tests are used to diagnose and
monitor various conditions related
to iron metabolism, including:
-
Iron-deficiency anemia:
Iron tests can help
diagnose iron-deficiency
anemia, which occurs when
the body does not have
enough iron to produce
hemoglobin.
-
Hemochromatosis: Iron tests
can help diagnose
hemochromatosis, a
condition in which the body
absorbs too much iron from
the diet, leading to iron
overload in the body.
-
Thalassemia: Iron tests can
help diagnose thalassemia,
a genetic disorder that
affects the production of
hemoglobin in the body.
-
Chronic liver disease: Iron
tests can help monitor iron
levels in patients with
chronic liver disease, such
as hepatitis C, alcoholic
liver disease, or
nonalcoholic fatty liver
disease.
-
Other conditions: Iron
tests can also be used to
monitor iron levels in
patients with kidney
disease, inflammatory bowel
disease, or cancer.
Procedure of Iron Tests
Iron tests require a blood sample,
which is typically drawn from a
vein in the arm. The procedure for
iron tests is as follows:
-
Fasting: Before the test,
patients are typically
asked to fast for 8-12
hours.
-
Blood draw: A healthcare
professional will draw a
blood sample from a vein in
the arm using a needle and
a syringe or a vacuum tube.
The blood sample is then
sent to a laboratory for
analysis.
-
Results: The results of the
iron tests are usually
available within a few
days.
Results of Iron Tests
Iron tests measure the levels of
iron, ferritin, transferrin, and
TIBC in the blood. The results of
these tests can provide valuable
information about the body's iron
metabolism.
-
Serum iron: Serum iron
measures the amount of iron
in the blood. Normal serum
iron levels range from
65-175 μg/dL in men and
50-170 μg/dL in women.
-
Ferritin: Ferritin is a
protein that stores iron in
the body. Ferritin levels
are a good indicator of the
body's iron stores. Normal
ferritin levels range from
30-400 ng/mL in men and
15-150 ng/mL in women.
-
Transferrin: Transferrin is
a protein that transports
iron in the blood.
Transferrin levels can help
diagnose iron-deficiency
anemia. Low transferrin
levels indicate iron
deficiency, while high
transferrin levels indicate
iron overload. Normal
transferrin levels range
from 170-370 mg/dL in men
and 150-250 mg/dL in women.
-
Total iron-binding capacity
(TIBC): TIBC measures the
total amount of iron that
transferrin can bind. TIBC
levels can help diagnose
iron-deficiency anemia. Low
TIBC levels indicate iron
overload, while high TIBC
levels indicate iron
deficiency. Normal TIBC
levels range from 250-460
μg/dL in men and 250-450
μg/dL in women