COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 130
A standard iron panel includes TIBC, UIBC, serum iron, iron
saturation, and ferritin. An anemia panel builds on this by adding
hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) estimates the amount of
transferrin, a protein responsible for transporting iron in the
bloodstream. TIBC measures how many iron-binding sites are
available. Clinically, TIBC testing is performed alongside serum iron
levels to assess a client for iron deficiency or overload. Elevated
TIBC typically indicates iron deficiency, while decreased levels
may indicate iron overload, liver dysfunction, or malnutrition.
When to run this test:
● To help identify iron deficiency anemia
● To track progress during iron deficiency treatment
● To observe and manage potential iron overload conditions
Range
Units
Conventional
250 - 450 µg/dL
Optimal / Functional
250 - 400 µg/dL
Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity (UIBC)
UIBC measures how much transferrin is still available to bind to iron,
offering a glimpse into the body’s iron transport capacity.
Elevated UIBC levels may reflect iron deficiency, whereas low
levels can indicate iron overload or other underlying conditions.
Range
Units
Conventional
131 - 425 µg/dL
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