Lab test · Iron
Iron studies (iron panel)
Iron studies combine ferritin, serum iron, TIBC and transferrin saturation. How the panel detects iron deficiency and iron overload and how to prepare.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
What is included
MedlinePlus lists the usual iron tests as serum iron, transferrin or total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation and ferritin.
What patterns suggest
Low ferritin and low saturation suggest iron deficiency. High ferritin and high saturation can suggest iron overload and may lead to genetic testing for hemochromatosis. Inflammation raises ferritin, which is why the markers are read together.
Preparation
Iron tests are often done in the morning after fasting, and iron supplements may need to be paused beforehand. Follow the instructions you are given.
Factors that can affect the result
- Iron supplements
- Recent meals
- Inflammation
- Menstruation and pregnancy
Questions people commonly ask
- Is ferritin alone enough?
- It is the single most useful marker of iron stores, but saturation and TIBC help when inflammation may be present.
Related biomarkers
Related topics
Keep your health results in one place
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- Iron Tests. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.