Iron Profile Basic

A serum iron test — measures the iron in your blood. A ferritin test — measures the amount of stored iron in your body. A transferrin test — measures how well your body transports iron in your blood. A total iron-binding capacity test (TIBC) — is another way to measure how well your body transports iron.

Iron: Males: 50 to 150 mcg/dL (8.95 to 26.85 micromol/L); Females: 35 to 145 mcg/dL (6.26 to 25.95 micromol/L) Total iron binding capacity (TIBC): Males: 171 to 505 mcg/dL (30.6 to 90.3 micromol/L); Females: 149 to 492 mcg/dL (26.7 to 88.0 micromol/L)

Iron profiles are used to find and test for anemia. The iron profile is the best way to tell the difference between iron deficiency (not enough iron in your blood) anemia and other kinds of anemias. Those most at risk for iron deficiency anemia are babies, children, young teenagers, and pregnant women.