Total Iron Binding Capacity TIBC

What are the symptoms? The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) test is typically used with a serum iron screening to check if you have too little — or too much — iron in your system. People with too much stored iron test may be at risk for hemochromatosis, an inherited condition in which the body absorbs more iron than it needs. Common symptoms include:

• fatigue
• joint pain
• upper right abdominal pain
• impotence or loss of sex drive
• lack of menstruation

Alternatively, if you have iron deficiency, that may signal anemia, a condition where the your body can't produce enough red blood cells to effectively carry oxygen to tissues and organs. Classic anemia symptoms typically include:

• fatigue
• pale skin
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• insomnia

What does the test include? The HealthCheck USA total iron binding capacity profile includes a TIBC blood screening test, which determines how much iron is being stored in your body. The profile also includes a transferrin saturation test, which shows how much of the body's iron supply is actually being carried by transferrin.

Who should be tested? Consider this test if an immediate relative is known to have hemochromatosis, or if you are a Caucasian male of Northern European descent and are experiencing one or more of the symptoms noted above. That's because hemochromatosis is less prevalent in other ethnic groups, and men are more likely than women to have the disorder. If you have iron overload, this test will show your iron level as high and your TIBC level as low or normal. Since transferrin is made in the liver, this profile can also be used to monitor liver disease. The test can also be an effective nutritional screen, since TIBC levels tend to fall when there is not enough protein in the diet.

A second group that should consider this test includes senior citizens, women of childbearing age and people with chronic health conditions who exhibit symptoms of anemia. If your system has an iron deficiency, this test will verify low iron levels, but higher-than-normal TIBC.