What is the difference between ferritin and TIBC?
total iron binding capacity (TIBC) – measures the transferrin capacity to bind iron; serum ferritin – measures the body’s ability to store iron.
What does it mean if my TIBC is high?
If you have iron deficiency (a lack of iron in your blood), your iron level will be low but your TIBC will be high. If you have too much iron (for example, if you have a condition like haemochromatosis), your iron level will be high but your TIBC will be low or normal. Transferrin is a protein produced by the liver.
What is a normal TIBC level for a woman?
Normal results for TIBC are 250 to 450 mcg/dL for men and women. Some common causes for a low amount of iron in your blood include: Iron deficiency anemia.
Is a high Tibc bad?
However, most laboratories define a normal range for adults as 250 to 450 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). A TIBC value above 450 mcg/dL usually means that there’s a low level of iron in your blood. This may be caused by: a lack of iron in the diet.
What does TIBC tell you?
Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a blood test to see if you have too much or too little iron in your blood. Iron moves through the blood attached to a protein called transferrin. This test helps your health care provider know how well that protein can carry iron in your blood.
Why is TIBC high in iron deficiency anemia?
In iron-deficient conditions, the relative transferrin content compared to iron content increases, and thus the TIBC values are high. The opposite happens in iron overloaded states of the body; the quantity of free transferrin in blood decreases, and consequently, TIBC values are low.
What is haemochromatosis disease?
Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition where iron levels in the body slowly build up over many years. This build-up of iron, known as iron overload, can cause unpleasant symptoms. If it is not treated, this can damage parts of the body such as the liver, joints, pancreas and heart.
What is UIBC lab?
Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC) is a blood test most frequently used along with a serum iron test and a total iron-binding capacity test (TIBC) to evaluate people suspected of having either iron deficiency or iron overload. Some laboratories measure UIBC, some measure TIBC, and some measure transferrin.
What cancers cause low ferritin levels?
In a study published in July 2013 in the Annals of Oncology, iron deficiency was most commonly seen in people with pancreatic cancer (present in 63 percent of participants), followed by colorectal cancer (52 percent) and lung cancer (51 percent).
What ferritin level is hemochromatosis?
Ferritin levels greater than 300 ng/mL in men and 200 ng/mL in women support a diagnosis of hemochromatosis. However, ferritin levels can also be increased by many common disorders other than hemochromatosis.
What is the best iron to raise ferritin levels?
When you want to boost ferritin quickly, the best choice is heme iron found in meat, poultry and fish because your body absorbs heme iron two to three times more efficiently than nonheme iron.
What can be considered as a high ferritin level?
Ferritin levels in women usually hover between 13 and 150 nanograms per milliliter. High ferritin levels are unusually high levels of ferritin, a compound the body uses to store iron in its tissues so it will be available when it is necessary.
What is a dangerous ferritin level?
Ferritin levels in men hover between 30 to 400 nanograms per milliliter. High ferritin levels may cause fatigue. High ferritin levels may cause muscle aches and pains. High ferritin levels may cause heart problems.
What causes increased ferritin level?
High ferritin levels can also be caused by a genetic disorder called hemochromatosis. This condition causes the body to store excessive amounts of dietary iron. Total iron-binding capacity and transferrin tests can be done at the same time as the ferritin test.