Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel

When and Why the Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel May Be Ordered

The Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel might be ordered in the following scenarios:

1. Suspected Iron Deficiency or Overload: If a patient exhibits symptoms of iron deficiency (like fatigue, weakness, pallor) or iron overload.
2. Chronic Illness: Some chronic diseases can affect iron metabolism, and this panel may be used to monitor these conditions.
3. Monitoring Response to Treatment: For patients receiving iron therapy, whether due to deficiency or certain chronic conditions, the test can gauge the effectiveness of the treatment.
4. General Health Check-up: It can be part of routine health screenings, especially if there’s a family history of iron-related disorders.

What the Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel Checks For

• Ferritin: This test measures the amount of ferritin in the blood, which is a protein that stores iron inside cells. Ferritin levels can indicate how much iron is stored in the body and available for use.
• Iron: This test directly gauges the amount of iron present in the blood. Iron is essential for many bodily functions, including the formation of hemoglobin.
• Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC): TIBC calculates the maximum amount of iron that blood proteins can transport. This mainly reflects the protein transferrin, which binds to iron and carries it in the blood.

Other Lab Tests Often Ordered Alongside the Ferritin, Iron & Total Iron Binding Capacity Panel:

When a Ferritin, Iron, and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel is ordered, it is typically done to evaluate iron status in the body, diagnose iron deficiency anemia, or assess iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis. To gain a comprehensive understanding of a patient’s iron metabolism and related health conditions, additional tests are often included. Here are some tests commonly ordered alongside this panel:

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC):
   • Purpose: To evaluate overall blood health, including red and white blood cells and platelets.
   • Why Is It Ordered: A CBC can indicate anemia, with specific changes in red blood cells (like low mean corpuscular volume, MCV) suggesting iron deficiency anemia.
2. Serum Transferrin:
   • Purpose: To measure the level of transferrin in the blood.
   • Why Is It Ordered: To further assess iron transport capacity, as transferrin levels increase in iron deficiency and decrease in iron overload.
3. Hemoglobin and Hematocrit:
   • Purpose: To measure the amount of hemoglobin in the blood and the proportion of blood made up of red blood cells.
   • Why Is It Ordered: These are key indicators of anemia. Low levels can be a result of chronic iron deficiency.
4. Reticulocyte Count:
   • Purpose: To measure the number of reticulocytes (immature red blood cells) in the blood.
   • Why Is It Ordered: To assess bone marrow response to anemia. In iron deficiency anemia, the count may be lower than expected.
5. Vitamin B12 and Folate Tests:
   • Purpose: To measure levels of these vitamins.
   • Why Is It Ordered: Deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate can also cause anemia, sometimes with a presentation similar to iron deficiency anemia.
6. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) or Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR):
   • Purpose: To measure markers of inflammation.
   • Why Is It Ordered: Inflammation can affect iron levels and erythropoiesis (red blood cell production), so these tests can help distinguish between anemia of chronic disease and iron deficiency anemia.
7. Liver Function Test:
   • Purpose: To assess liver health.
   • Why Is It Ordered: The liver plays a role in iron metabolism, and liver diseases can affect iron storage and transport.

These tests, when ordered alongside a Ferritin, Iron, and TIBC Panel, provide a comprehensive evaluation of iron metabolism, anemia, and related health conditions. They are crucial for diagnosing the cause of anemia, assessing the risk of iron overload, and guiding treatment decisions. The specific combination of tests will depend on the individual’s symptoms, clinical history, and the results of initial tests.

Conditions or Diseases the Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel Can Check For

This panel can be instrumental in diagnosing and monitoring several iron-related conditions:

• Iron Deficiency Anemia: This occurs when the body lacks enough iron to produce sufficient red blood cells. Low iron and ferritin levels with an increased TIBC are typical indicators.
• Iron Overload or Hemochromatosis: This condition happens when there’s excessive iron accumulation in the body, potentially damaging organs. High iron and ferritin levels with a decreased TIBC can signal this disorder.
• Chronic Disease Anemia: Certain chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease or inflammatory disorders, can affect iron metabolism. The panel can help differentiate this from iron-deficiency anemia.
• Liver Disease: As ferritin is stored in the liver, abnormal ferritin levels might also indicate liver damage.

By evaluating the iron storage, transport, and binding capacities, the Ferritin, Iron and TIBC Panel provides essential insights into a person’s iron status, enabling accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of related conditions.

How it Works

Get Started Today – Its Simple and Confidential – No Prescription Needed

You:  order your tests,  get your blood drawn, and then  receive your results on-line.

1. Order your lab tests directly online.

   • Research and select your test or wellness package online.
   • Select and purchase your tests online on our safe and secure payment system.
   • Create or login to your own confidential Ulta Lab Tests account.
   • Receive an automated confirmation email receipt.
   • Print your lab requisition order after checkout.

2. Get your blood drawn at one of our 2,500 approved patient service centers nationally near you.

   • When ordering your lab tests, after you have selected your tests, use our online Locator to search our network and find a convenient Patient Service Center near you.
   • Take your Lab Requisition to the selected Patient Service Center to get your specimen collected.
   • If your lab test or wellness package requires fasting, then fast as directed prior to your blood draw (special instructions will be noted in the Patient Instructions section of your Lab Requisition order).

3. Review your test results and biomarkers online.

   • Within a few business days, you will receive an email notification when your results are available (occasionally, complex tests may take between 7-10 business days for results).
   • Your results will be uploaded into your private and secure healthcare dashboard.
   • Log in and view intuitive charts that display your data, along with explanations of biomarker to give you a clear understanding of your results.
   • Easy to read PDF’s of your tests results are also available to share with your physician and healthcare providers.

4. Track your progress; consult with your healthcare provider and retest.

   • Your personalized health dashboard makes it easy to view diagnostic changes that occur between blood tests, allowing you to adjust your wellness plan for even better health.
   • We recommend that you share and review your results with your physician and healthcare providers.
   • It’s up to you whether you share your test results with your physician, healthcare provider, your family, or anyone else.

5. Consult Your Healthcare Provider

   • We recommend that you share and review your results with your physician and healthcare providers.
   • It’s up to you whether you share your test results with your physician, healthcare provider, your family, or anyone else.

Hints

• Lab requisitions are valid for 5 months from the date of approval.
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Not Available in Certain States

• Currently, New York, New Jersey and Rhode Island state laws prohibit direct-access testing. Our direct lab test service cannot be conducted at Patient Service Centers located within these states at this time.