MyMedLab

The is no special preparation for this test.

In healthy people, about 20-50% of available sites in transferrin are used to transport iron. In iron deficiency, iron is low, but TIBC is increased, and transferrin saturation becomes very low. In iron overload states such as hemochromatosis, iron will be high and TIBC will be low or normal, causing the transferrin saturation to increase.

It is customary to test for transferrin (instead of TIBC) when evaluating a patient's nutritional status or liver function. Because it is made in the liver, transferrin will be low with liver disease. Transferrin levels also drop when there is not enough protein in the diet, so this test can be used to monitor nutrition. TIBC may be ordered along with serum iron when it appears that you have too much or too little iron in your system.

If you have anemia, especially if the red cells are small and pale (microcytic and hypochromic), iron tests are usually performed.

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