Don't take iron supplements without first consulting your healthcare provider. Serum iron, or SI, is the amount of iron contained in your blood plasma. SI is measured with a simple blood draw and laboratory test. Normal SI levels vary considerably from person to person.
In general, healthy males should have an SI between 65 and micrograms per deciliter, while healthy females should be between 50 to micrograms per deciliter according to the Iron Disorders Institute. Several factors may cause your iron levels to increase within the range of normal. Iron levels are highest in the morning, so you would notice a difference if you had the test performed once in the afternoon and once in the morning.
Some drugs including birth control, methyldopa and estrogen may also cause increased iron levels. There are several behaviors, environmental factors and health conditions which may put you at risk for high iron levels. Some of the risk factors include excessive use of iron supplements, frequent blood transfusions, a diet heavy in red meat or nutrients that promote iron absorption such as vitamin C, genetic factors, smoking, asbestos exposure, working in a coal mine or iron smelter, exposure to high levels of pollution and spending long periods of time working or commuting in the subway system.
Percentage of transferrin with iron bound to them. This value is called transferrin saturation. See if your diet is providing enough iron. Find out if treatment to keep the right amount of iron in your blood is working. How To Prepare Do not take iron supplements for 12 hours before your iron test. Iron levels change throughout the day. So it's best to do iron tests in the morning, when iron levels are highest. How It Is Done A health professional uses a needle to take a blood sample, usually from the arm.
How It Feels When a blood sample is taken, you may feel nothing at all from the needle. Risks There is very little chance of having a problem from this test. Results Normal Each lab has a different range for what's normal. High and low values The values for serum iron, total iron-binding capacity TIBC , and transferrin saturation are used to see if a low amount of iron in the body is from iron deficiency anemia or another condition.
Other conditions that affect iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation levels include: Hemolytic anemia. This causes a low amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin found in red blood cells. The iron levels are often normal. This is a blood disorder that runs in families inherited. It changes how the body makes hemoglobin. The iron levels are often normal, but ferritin levels may be high if the person has had a lot of blood transfusions. This is a condition that occurs when inflammation and scarring damage the liver.
Lead poisoning. This develops from months or years of exposure to small amounts of lead in the environment. Iron deficiency anemia.
This occurs when low iron levels cause a low amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in red blood cells. The iron levels are low, the transferrin saturation is high, and the ferritin level is low. Rheumatoid arthritis. This form of arthritis inflames the membranes or tissues lining the joints. A healthcare provider will insert a needle into a vein in your arm or hand and draw a small sample of blood. This sample will then be tested in a laboratory. Your healthcare provider may ask you to fast beginning at midnight the night before the procedure.
Serum iron is not a routine test. Such tests include complete blood count or hemoglobin test. Abnormal iron tests could be a sign of iron deficiency or iron overload.
The following are considered normal ranges for a serum iron test:. Transferrin is a protein in the blood that transports iron throughout your body. Examining how much iron is in the transferrin proteins can tell your doctor if you have too much or too little iron in your blood.
High levels of iron may indicate:. Regularly having heavy menstrual periods can also lead to low iron levels. Many medications can affect the results of a serum iron test by increasing or decreasing your iron levels. For example, birth control pills are commonly used and can affect iron levels.
Your doctor may instruct you to temporarily stop taking medicines that will affect the test. You might also bleed slightly afterward or develop a small bruise at the puncture site. Your doctor will review your results with you. They may suggest iron supplements or diet changes, depending on the levels of iron in your blood.
Your doctor may suggest eating more iron-rich foods if your iron levels are too low. Iron-rich foods include:. Researchers say low iron levels can cause anemia while high iron levels may result in blood clots. An iron infusion is one of the possible treatments for iron deficiency anemia.
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