IRON, TOTAL TEST

Other names of this test

Iron, Serum iron, TIBC

What is the purpose of Iron total test?

This is a serum iron test, which shows the quantity of iron in your body. TIBC (Total Iron-Binding Capacity) is another name for this test. Iron is the essential mineral that creates hemoglobin for the body. In red blood cells, hemoglobin is a protein used to carry oxygen throughout the body. Without iron, there is no production of hemoglobin in the body. Iron also makes particular hormones in the body.

An iron test indicates the specific amount of proteins, especially transferrin. A protein called transferrin in a blood helps iron to flow into the body. Liver makes transferrin in your body. TIBC besides serum test measures the levels of transferrin into your blood.
 
What are the reasons to perform Iron Total test?

A number of reasons to conduct Iron test or TIBC. To check levels of iron in the body, your doctor recommends this test. Before that, if you have a deficiency of iron in your body result to anemia or several other diseases. Similarly excessive iron in the body shows that you are dealing with medical problems, which will discuss later.

Symptoms and signs of low level of iron

One of the frequent iron diseases is its deficiency in the body. Anemia is the most common sign in, which you can experience low RBCs. Some other signs and symptoms of low levels of iron in the body include:
 

• Repeated infections
• Tiredness or weakness in the body
• Feeling cold in hands and feet in any environment
• Skin color appears to appear
• Damaged hair
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Brittleness in nails
• Sour tongue
• Mental health disorder of children
• Swelling in tongue

What are the causes of iron deficiency?

If you understand your symptoms of low levels of iron in the body. Your need to take an immediate test in order to understand the real cause of iron deficiency. Some of the causes of the iron deficiency, which are:
 

• Not taking enough iron from the daily food intake or does not meet the requirement of nutritional needs
• Blood loss due to an incident
• Immune system disorder
• Internal bleeding
• During pregnancy

Symptoms and signs of high level of iron:

Since the deficiency of iron causes anemia and other diseases. Similarly, excessive iron may lead to certain health problems for your body. After the middle age of a person, its symptoms appears in the body. While, in female it shows up after menopause. Some critical signs and symptoms of high level of iron, such as

• Stomach pain
• Pain in joints
• Valuable weight loss
• Increase in sugar levels
• Reduced sex drive
• Fatigue and weakness
• Heart problems

What are the causes of high iron levels?

There are variety of causes that leads to high level of irons in the body. Following are

• Iron overloading also called hemochromatosis, in which iron is in larger quantity by the body
• Hemolytic anemia in, which death of red blood cells takes place
• Poisoning of Iron
• Liver disease
• Transferring of blood larger than the need

In order to give remarks on your conditions, your doctor will analyze the quantity of iron in your body specifically transferrin by performing TIBC test.

How to understand the test results of Iron total test?

The iron test results depends on many factors like person’s age, medical history, gender, etc. Each lab has different reference value to compare with your test results. Yes, you can know that if you have an iron deficiency or not be seeing the report. However, your doctor will give you complete understanding of your iron test.

Each group of a person has different normal values of iron in the body. Generally, the levels of iron that is normal are:

In men its values lies in between 70 to 175 mcg/dl (micrograms per deciliter). While in women, the normal range is 50 to 170 mcg/dl. Children has about 50 to 120 mcg/dl.

Both the men and women have the range for TIBC results found in between 250 to 450 mcg/dl.

How to get ready for iron test?

It is a simple blood test. In the morning, iron levels are pretty much closer to the real one. Its quantity decreases as the day finishes. Your healthcare recommends you to keep fast when you are going to give this test. The total time in which you do not have to eat or drink is at least 8 hours. Besides, you should avoid certain medication with the concerned of your doctor.

What are the factors that affects the results for iron test?

 Some are the vital factors that affects the iron test, which includes
 

• Testosterone
• Fluorides
• Alcohols
• Medicines that control birth
• Antibiotics

To conclude, if you have a low level of iron you may lead to anemia. While, the high levels indicate the large quantity of iron in the body due to hemochromatosis.  

If you are experiencing the mentioned symptoms or signs, do not ignore. Visit UmbrellaMD to place an online test and take an appointment from the doctor. Umbrella Health Care Systems is an online platform that creates a connection between doctor and a patient. It is the most reliable, simplest, and affordable way to take care of your health. We aim to provide you the best service. If you gain enough information through this article, you can share this in your circle as much as possible.