Quick Facts
- Sample: Blood
- Fasting: Fast for 8–12 hours before the test if instructed, but water is okay. Do not take iron supplements or multivitamins for 24 hours before your blood draw, avoid alcohol the day before, and try to schedule a morning test since iron levels are usually highest then.
- Turnaround: 1–3 business days. May take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
What's Included
Iron Transport and Availability
- Iron, Total: Measures the iron circulating in your blood.
- Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): Reflects how much transferrin is available to carry iron.
- Iron Saturation: Reports how much of your iron binding capacity is in use, as a percentage.
Iron Storage
- Ferritin: Reflects how much iron is stored in your tissues.
Benefits
- Check iron transport, availability, and storage markers in one blood draw.
- Review total iron, TIBC, iron saturation, and ferritin together.
- Order online with no doctor referral required.
- Get confidential results online without needing insurance.
- Share your results with your healthcare provider to support their review.
Who Is This Test For?
- People with unexplained tiredness or weakness
- Women of childbearing age
- Pregnant women who want to monitor iron levels
- Vegetarians and vegans with limited dietary iron sources
- Athletes with high-intensity training
- People with chronic conditions such as kidney disease or inflammatory disorders
How It Works
- Order Your Test Online
- Visit a Local Lab
- Get Results Online
FAQ
1. What is the purpose of this test?
This test looks at iron transport, availability, and storage in one blood draw. Total iron shows the iron circulating in your blood, TIBC reflects how much transferrin is available to carry iron, iron saturation reports the percentage of that binding capacity currently in use, and ferritin reflects how much iron is stored in your tissues. Together, these results may help a healthcare provider evaluate your iron status, though the test alone does not diagnose a condition.
2. Who should consider this test?
This test may be worth considering if you have symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath, or if you fall into a group commonly monitored for iron status: women of childbearing age, pregnant women, vegetarians and vegans with limited dietary iron sources, athletes with high-intensity training, or people with chronic conditions such as kidney disease or inflammatory disorders. It may also be useful for routine preventive screening, before or during pregnancy, after donating blood frequently, when starting an endurance sport regimen, or when following up on a dietary or supplementation plan or monitoring iron supplement therapy or anemia treatment with your healthcare provider. It does not replace medical evaluation.
3. Do I need to fast before this test?
Fast for 8–12 hours before the test if instructed, but water is okay. Do not take iron supplements or multivitamins for 24 hours before your blood draw, avoid alcohol the day before, and try to schedule a morning test since iron levels are usually highest then.
4. How quickly will I get results?
1–3 business days. May take longer due to weather, holidays, or lab delays.
5. How do I interpret the results?
Patterns across total iron, TIBC, iron saturation, and ferritin are often more meaningful than any single value. Your provider may also consider your symptoms, medical history, and other lab results. General reference ranges are iron 35–158 mcg/dL, TIBC 250–400 mcg/dL, and ferritin 15–205 ng/mL (women) or 30–566 ng/mL (men). Discuss your results with a qualified healthcare provider.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
6. What should I do if my results are abnormal?
Review your results with a qualified healthcare provider. They can consider them alongside your symptoms, medical history, and other information. An abnormal result alone does not confirm a condition. Your provider can decide whether any additional evaluation or testing is appropriate for you.
7. How often should I get tested?
How often you test depends on your individual situation and your reason for testing. Some people test once, while others repeat testing over time. Follow the testing schedule as directed by your healthcare provider.
8. Why early detection matters
Because this test checks iron transport, availability, and storage together, it can help you and your healthcare provider notice changes in iron status sooner — supporting ongoing monitoring when you're following up on a dietary or supplementation plan or anemia treatment.
Pre-Test preparation
Fast for 8–12 hours before the test if instructed, but water is okay. Do not take iron supplements or multivitamins for 24 hours before your blood draw, avoid alcohol the day before, and try to schedule a morning test since iron levels are usually highest then.
