What does an iron level of 95 mean?

Interpreting an Iron Level of 95

An iron level of 95 µg/dL is within the normal range for adults and indicates adequate circulating iron in the bloodstream. 1

Understanding Serum Iron Levels

Serum iron is a measure of the total amount of iron in the serum and is often provided with results from routine laboratory chemistry panels. Normal serum iron values typically range from 60-170 µg/dL for adult men and 50-170 µg/dL for adult women, though reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories. 1

Important considerations when interpreting serum iron levels:

• Serum iron concentration is subject to significant fluctuations due to:
  • Diurnal variation (higher in morning, lower at night) 1
  • Recent meals (increases after eating) 1
  • Day-to-day variation within individuals 1

Limitations of Isolated Serum Iron Measurement

While a value of 95 µg/dL falls within normal limits, it's important to understand that serum iron alone is not sufficient to assess overall iron status: 2

• Serum iron represents only circulating iron, not stored iron or functional iron status 1
• Normal serum iron can be present even with depleted iron stores 2
• Serum iron can be falsely normal in inflammatory conditions 3

Comprehensive Iron Status Assessment

For a complete evaluation of iron status, additional tests should be considered:

• Serum ferritin: Most specific indicator of iron stores (normal: 135 µg/L for men, 43 µg/L for women, 30 µg/L for children 6-24 months) 1

  • Values <30 ng/mL typically indicate iron deficiency in those without inflammatory conditions 3
  • Higher thresholds (up to 100 ng/mL) may be used in chronic inflammatory conditions 4

• Transferrin saturation: Calculated as (serum iron/TIBC) × 100

  • Normal is typically >20% 3
  • Values <16% suggest iron-deficient erythropoiesis 1

• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): Reflects availability of iron-binding sites on transferrin 1

• Complete blood count: To assess for anemia and red cell indices 2

  • Mean cell volume (MCV)
  • Red cell distribution width (RDW)

Clinical Implications

A serum iron level of 95 µg/dL:

• Is unlikely to be associated with iron deficiency anemia if other parameters are normal 1
• Does not rule out early iron depletion, which requires assessment of ferritin 2
• Should be interpreted in context of clinical symptoms and other laboratory values 3

When Further Evaluation Is Warranted

Consider additional testing if any of the following are present despite normal serum iron:

• Symptoms of iron deficiency (fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, restless legs syndrome) 3
• Risk factors for iron deficiency (menstruation, pregnancy, gastrointestinal blood loss) 3, 5
• Anemia on complete blood count 6
• Chronic inflammatory conditions (IBD, CKD, heart failure) 3, 4

Common Pitfalls in Iron Level Interpretation

• Relying on a single test: Serum iron alone is insufficient for diagnosis of iron deficiency or overload 2
• Ignoring timing: Failing to account for diurnal variation can lead to misinterpretation 1
• Missing iron overload: While focus is often on deficiency, iron overload is also important to recognize (normal upper limit of liver iron content is 32 μmol/g in healthy adults) 1
• Overlooking inflammation: Inflammatory states can mask iron deficiency by falsely elevating ferritin 3