Blood test...anaemia?!

[stretchybetty]

Does anyone know how to interpret these results? My iron is normal (so surely this can't be anaemia?), yet Iron Binding Capacity is higher and Transferrin Saturation is lower than it should be.

I read that the contraceptive pill can do this, but I do not take it. I am not seeing my doctor for several weeks, so I'm wondering what the cause might be? I am 25.


Iron: 12 (Range: 10.0-30.0 umol/L)
Iron Binding Capacity : *81 (Range: 45-72 umol/L)
Transferrin Saturation : *15 (Range: 20-50%)

[Red_Star]

Iron stores (ferritin) remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of iron deficiency.  Anaemia is the reduction in the haematocrit or haemoglobin. So at this moment it would be most likely you have iron deficiency but not to the point of yet affecting iron serum or causing anaemia. Iron deficiency is the #1 deficiency in the world.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi!
Normally in iron deficiency, iron is low, TIBC is high, percent saturation is low and ferritin is low. In your case, the results of Iron Binding Capacity and Transferrin Saturation are marginally outside the normal range, hence the iron levels are normal. Taking some iron pills may help. Thereafter you can repeat the test and see. Do discuss this with your doctor. Take care!