Iron Panel Results

[Sparklingsunshine]

Hi

I recently had some NHS iron blood tests done and would welcome any comments.,

Serum Iron Level 17 (11 -25)

Serum Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity 47umol (44-71)

Transferrin Saturation Index 36% ( 20-50) .

[Poppy_Ann]

What are you asking about? It seems that all of your results are in the normal size and nothing to be bothered about, let's hope they stay in the good range every time I go for tests they come up with something else for me to take (I could never be a junkie as I hate taking medication) good luck for the future. Regards Poppy Ann.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to Poppy_Ann]

Hi

Well there's in range and there's good, which is not the same 😀.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Sparklingsunshine

Ferritin is part of an iron panel, was this done?

Serum Iron Level 17 (11 -25)

Serum Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity 47umol (44-71)

Transferrin Saturation Index 36% ( 20-50) .

Whenever we discuss iron panels we tend to refer to the pptimal iron panel levels according to rt3-adrenals.org/Iron_test_... are:

Serum iron: 55 to 70% of the range, higher end for men - yours is 42.85% through range so is a little low

Saturation: optimal is 35 to 45%, higher end for men - yours is 36% so is classed as optimal

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) or Transferrin: Low in range indicates lack of capacity for additional iron, High in range indicates body's need for supplemental iron - yours hasn't been included. Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) shows how much transferrin (a protein) is free to carry iron through your blood. If your TIBC level is high, it means more transferrin is free because you have low iron. I think this may be a better test than UIBC.

Unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC): This test measures how much transferrin isn’t attached to iron and I don't have an optimal level for that so can't comment on your result. Transferrin saturation test (above) measures the percentage of transferrin that is attached to iron.

So really you only have part of the iron panel and for a full picture it would be useful to have serum iron, saturation, TIBC and Ferritin all tested together.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi

Thanks for you valued input. I had my ferritin tested by NHS at the end of June. It was slightly elevated at 160, range goes upto 150. Even though it was minimally raised my GP got me to do further blood tests, including these ones. I guess they were making sure I didn't have iron overload.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Sparklingsunshine

Was CRP or another inflammation marker tested to see whether your ferritin was raised due to inflammation? It would have been a good idea for them to retest ferritin when this iron panel was done.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi

They tested ferritin in early June, as part of FBC, slightly raised then, 157, then at the end of June, it was 160. I did mention to the doctor that when all this dizziness started I had self medicated with iron tablets as I've a long history of anemia and often felt this way before when iron was low.

After a couple of months it was clear the ferrous fumarate wasn't helping so I stopped them. I can only assume they pushed my ferritin up. No the CRP wasn't done. I've had no less than 3 liver profiles done in 2 months lol. Not sure why as they've always come back as normal.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

I doubt your ferritin level is high enough to be iron overload and your iron panel certainly doesn't show it.