Full iron panel results

[gobojo]

I've persuaded my doctor to do a blood test to determine my iron levels but I need help knowing what my levels should be. I've tried searching the site but no luck. Could someone help please?

[ChrisColumbus]

Have you had a fasting full iron panel test already - taken in the morning, after fasting over night, no iron supplements for 48 hours prior- or is it still to happen?

If/when you have all the numbers - serum ferritin, transferrin saturation (TSAT), serum iron etc - post them here and someone will interpret them for you.

[gobojo in reply to ChrisColumbus]

Thank you. I haven't had it yet. My doctor told me just to book a blood test. Do I actually need to have a 'Fasting full iron panel test' - is that different from an ordinary blood test?

[SueJohnson in reply to gobojo]

You need to ask for a full panel iron test. The normal test for iron won't give you the ferritin amount. Stop taking any iron supplements including in a multivitamin 48 hours before the test, avoid a heavy meat meal the night before and fast after midnight and have your test in the morning before 9 am if possible.

[gobojo in reply to SueJohnson]

Hi Sue,Could you suggest any research findings that indicate that a full iron panel test is required?

[SueJohnson in reply to gobojo]

You want your ferritin value and this is the test that gives you that.

[SueJohnson]

As I mentioned before you want your ferritin to be over 100 and your TSAT between 20 and 45%. These are the important ones for RLS. On the results you get for the other values it should tell you if they are normal or not and will often list the normal values beside the result. But what is a normal ferritin value for others is not normal for us with RLS. If your ferritin is not over 100 post back here and we can give you some advice.

[gobojo in reply to SueJohnson]

Sorry, I couldn't find your previous post

[SueJohnson in reply to gobojo]

No problem - glad to give it to you again.

[gobojo in reply to SueJohnson]

Thank you for your patience.

[DicCarlson]

This article should help. My Ferritin level was 49 with raging RLS. Iron supplements cut into it immediately, raising it to 105 in one month (ferrous bisglycinate chelate).

bloodtestsresults.com/iron-...

[gobojo in reply to DicCarlson]

That's helpful, thank you so much