Hi Debbie!
The Iron Profile consists of a series of Iron related tests including the Serum Ferritin test also known as simply the Ferritin test.
A typical iron profile includes measures such as the following:
- Ferritin (FERR) - This is a marker of iron stores in the body. Low ferritin levels means that the body is losing iron. FERR values between 13 and 20 ug/ml indicate borderline iron deficiency.
- Iron (FE) - Most of the body's iron is stored in the hemoglobin inside red blood cells. The amount of iron in the blood depends on the amount of dietary iron, how much is absorbed, and how much is lost. There can be wide daily fluctuations in blood FE levels.
- Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) - This is an indicator of the body's ability to transport iron to and from storage areas. Very high levels may indicate storage iron deficiency. Low levels are sometimes associated with inflammatory conditions.
- Saturation (SAT) - Transferrin is the substance that actually transports iron in the blood. There is usually more transferrin than iron. The percent of saturation of this transferrin is generally 20 to 40 percent. Below 20 percent suggests poor iron transport capability. This may result from low iron stores.
Hope this helps.
Take care, Peace!
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