Serum Iron Study
Serum Iron Study
- This test is meant to measure the amount of iron in your blood.
- No special preparation is required.
- This test would provide one value for the iron levels in the serum.
What is Serum Iron Study Test ?
We get iron through several food items. The role of iron in our body is in the production of Hemoglobin which carries oxygen from the lungs to all the cells of the body. If there is deficiency of iron in the body this could manifest in the form of low levels of hemoglobin. The patient would be feeling fatigued and low in energy.
If you consume too much iron either through foods which are rich in iron or through supplements, this could result in an iron overload in the body. In some cases, the body absorbs too much iron which can also result in excess of serum iron in the body.
Reported Parameters
- Serum Iron
- Transferrin Saturation
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
All The Questions that you might have
- Why is Serum Iron Study Done ?
- What is the normal range of Serum Iron Study Test ?
- Who Should Do the Serum Iron Study ?
- How to increase Serum Iron Levels through food ?
- Who should go for Iron Supplements ?
This test is done if Hemoglobin is found to be low in the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. Serum Iron Study is also done if the patient is complaining of fatigue, weakness, dizziness, muscle weakness etc. Such a condition is called anemia in which the body has less than the normal range of Serum Iron.
Serum iron is measured in micrograms of iron per deciliter of blood (mcg/dL). The following are considered normal ranges for a serum iron study
- Serum Iron: 60 to 170 mcg/dL
- Transferrin Saturation: 25 percent to 35 percent
- Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): 240 to 450 mcg/dL
Transferrin is a protein in the blood that transports iron throughout your body. Examining how much iron is in the transferrin proteins can tell your doctor if you have too much or too little iron in your blood.
TIBC measures how well the transferrin proteins are transporting iron around your body.
Serum Iron Study is advised by your doctor in the following conditions or symptoms :to look for low levels of Serum Iron :
- Low Hemoglobin Levels
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Chronic Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Muscle Weakness
- Headache
If you are suffering from the following symptoms, your doctor might advise you to get Serum Iron Study to look for Iron overdose:
- Abdominal or Joint Pain
- Skin turning dark or tanned
- Heart Disease
- Fatigue
- Low on energy
- Weight Loss
- Lack of sex drive
Some of the foods which are rich in iron are :
- Green Leafy vegetables – spinach, coriander, silver beet, mint etc
- Animal Liver
- Red Meats
- Beans
- Molassas
- Grains
Iron supplements should only be taken on the advise of your doctor and after doing a Serum Iron Study. Normally the supplements are advised in the following conditions :
- Pregnancy
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
- Chemotherapy
- Kidney Disease
