Are These Iron Study Values Normal?
Your iron studies are within normal limits and do not suggest iron deficiency or iron overload. All four parameters—ferritin 67 ng/mL, serum iron 134 µg/dL, total iron-binding capacity 329 µg/dL, and transferrin saturation 41%—fall within acceptable ranges for healthy adults.
Interpretation of Your Specific Values
Ferritin: 67 ng/mL
- Normal range: 20-250 ng/mL for men, 20-200 ng/mL for women 1
- Your value is comfortably above the threshold for iron deficiency (<15 ng/mL indicates absolute iron deficiency) 2, 3
- Even using the more liberal cutoff of <45 ng/mL (which maximizes sensitivity for detecting iron deficiency), your ferritin is adequate 4
- This level indicates normal iron stores
Serum Iron: 134 µg/dL
- Normal range: 50-175 µg/dL 1
- Your value is well within the normal range
- Note that serum iron has significant diurnal variation (higher in morning, lower at night) and day-to-day fluctuation 2
Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC): 329 µg/dL
- Normal range: 250-370 µg/dL 1
- Your value is normal
- TIBC increases when iron stores are low and decreases when iron stores are high 2
Transferrin Saturation: 41%
- Normal range: 20-50% 1
- Your value is solidly within normal limits
- Transferrin saturation <16% is used to confirm iron deficiency in adults 2
- Your 41% saturation indicates adequate iron availability for red blood cell production
Clinical Context
No iron deficiency: Iron deficiency would typically show ferritin <15-45 ng/mL and transferrin saturation <16% 2, 3, 4. Your values are well above these thresholds.
No iron overload: Iron overload (such as in hemochromatosis) would typically show transferrin saturation >45-50% and ferritin >200-300 ng/mL 5. Your values do not suggest this.
Important Caveats
- Inflammation: Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant and can be falsely elevated by infection, inflammation, liver disease, or malignancy 2. If you have any chronic inflammatory condition, ferritin may not accurately reflect iron stores even though your value appears normal
- Timing: Serum iron varies throughout the day and after meals 2
- Individual variation: While your values are normal by population standards, interpretation should always consider your complete clinical picture including hemoglobin level, symptoms, and any underlying medical conditions 6
Bottom line: These results indicate normal iron status with no evidence of deficiency or overload requiring intervention.