From the Guidelines
An iron panel typically includes serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and serum ferritin. According to the study published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network 1, these components are crucial for assessing iron levels and related markers in the body. The panel is useful for evaluating iron deficiency, iron overload conditions, or other disorders affecting iron metabolism. Key components of the iron panel include:
- Serum iron: measures the amount of iron in the blood
- Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): evaluates how well the blood can transport iron
- Serum ferritin: indicates the body's iron stores These measurements help healthcare providers diagnose anemia, assess nutritional status, or monitor treatment for iron-related disorders, as iron is essential for producing hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Iron Panel Components
An iron panel typically includes several tests to assess iron deficiency and other related conditions. The components of an iron panel may vary, but common tests include:
- Serum iron: measures the amount of iron in the blood 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): measures the capacity of transferrin to bind iron in the blood 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Transferrin saturation: calculates the percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
- Ferritin: measures the amount of ferritin in the blood, which reflects the body's iron stores 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Diagnostic Utility of Iron Panel Tests
The diagnostic utility of these tests varies:
- Serum iron and TIBC have limited sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing iron deficiency 4, 5
- Transferrin saturation is also not a reliable indicator of iron deficiency 3, 6
- Ferritin is the most useful test for diagnosing iron deficiency, but it may not be sensitive enough in all cases 2, 5
- The combination of these tests can provide a more accurate diagnosis of iron deficiency and other related conditions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6