What is an iron panel?

From the Guidelines

The iron panel is a crucial blood test that measures various components related to iron metabolism in the body, including serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation (TSAT), and ferritin, to diagnose and monitor conditions like iron deficiency anemia and hemochromatosis. The iron panel typically includes:

• Serum iron: the amount of iron in your blood
• Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): measures how well your blood can transport iron
• Transferrin saturation (TSAT): the percentage of transferrin that has iron attached to it
• Ferritin: indicates how much iron is stored in your body This panel is commonly ordered to diagnose conditions like iron deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis (iron overload), or to monitor treatments for these conditions, as noted in the study by 1. The test requires a simple blood draw and usually doesn't require special preparation, though fasting may be recommended for more accurate results. Understanding iron levels is important because iron is essential for producing hemoglobin, which carries oxygen throughout the body, and both too little and too much iron can cause significant health problems, as discussed in the study by 1. Key points to consider when interpreting iron panel results include:
• TSAT levels: a TSAT of < 20% may indicate iron deficiency, but this is not always accurate, as noted in the study by 1
• Ferritin levels: serum ferritin reflects storage iron and can be affected by inflammation, as discussed in the study by 1
• Inflammatory status: it is essential to consider the inflammatory status when interpreting iron panel results, as inflammation can affect ferritin and TSAT levels, as noted in the study by 1.

From the Research

Iron Panel Components

• Serum iron: measures the amount of iron in the blood 2
• Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): measures the amount of iron that can be bound by transferrin in the blood 2
• Transferrin saturation: calculated by dividing serum iron by TIBC and multiplying by 100, indicates the percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron 2
• Ferritin: measures the amount of iron stored in the body, often used as a gold standard for diagnosing iron deficiency 2

Diagnostic Accuracy of Iron Panel Components

• Serum iron: sensitivity of 63.5% and specificity of 38.6% for diagnosing iron deficiency 2
• TIBC: sensitivity of 64.5% and specificity of 42.8% for diagnosing iron deficiency 2
• Ferritin: sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 99% for diagnosing iron deficiency at a concentration of 30 ng/ml 2

Clinical Utility of Iron Panel Components

• Serum iron and TIBC may not provide additional information in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia if serum ferritin is available 2
• Ferritin shows poor correlation with iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation 2