Iron Studies Interpretation

Published by NHC on March 30, 2021March 30, 2021

Iron Studies Interpretation

	High	Low
Serum Iron	Haemochromatosis Haemosiderosis Haemolytic anaemia Hepatitis Hepatic necrosis Lead toxicity Iron poisoning Blood transfusion	Insufficient dietary intake of iron Chronic blood loss Malabsorption Pregnancy (later stages) Iron deficiency anaemia Neoplasia Heavy menstrual flow
TIBC/Transferrin	Oral contraceptives Pregnancy (later stages) Polycythaemia vera Iron deficiency anaemia	Hypoproteinaemia Inflammatory diseases Cirrhosis Haemolytic anaemia Pernicious anaemia Sickle cell anaemia
Transferrin Saturation	Haemochromatosis Haemosiderosis Acute iron overdose Haemolytic anaemia	Iron deficiency anaemia Chronic illness
Ferritin	Haemochromatosis Haemosiderosis Megaloblastic anemia Haemolytic anemia Inflammatory conditions Alcoholic or inflammatory liver disease Advanced cancers Chronic illnesses (e.g., leukemias, cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis) Collagen vascular diseases Haemophagocytic syndromes Sideroblastic anaemia	Iron deficiency anaemia Severe protein deficiency Haemodialysis

Disease	Iron	TIBC/Transferrin	UIBC	% Transferrin Saturation	Ferritin
Iron Deficiency	Low	High	High	Low	Low
Haemochromatosis/Haemosiderosis	High	Low	Low	High	High
Chronic Illness	Low	Normal/Low	Normal/Low	Normal/Low	Normal/High
Haemolytic Anaemia	High	Normal/Low	Normal/Low	High	High
Sideroblastic Anaemia	Normal/High	Normal/Low	Normal/Low	High	High
Iron Poisoning	High	Normal	Low	High	Normal

References

Hechtman, L. (2018). Clinical Naturopathic Medicine. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Pagana, K. D., & Pagana, T. J. (2019). Mosby’s Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference (14th ed.) Elsevier Health Sciences

Williamson, M. A., Snyder, L. M., & Wallach, J. B. 1. (2011). Wallach’s interpretation of diagnostic tests. (9th ed.) Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Iron Studies Interpretation​

Iron Studies Interpretation

Iron Studies Interpretation