IRON, TOTAL, & TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY

IRON, TOTAL & TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY,  IRON, TOTAL & TIBC, TIBC, IBC

Iron is found in all of the body’s cells. A total iron binding capacity (TIBC) test is a type of blood test that gauges whether there’s too much or too little of the mineral in your bloodstream.

You get the iron you need through your diet. Iron is present in numerous foods, including:

• dark green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach
• beans
• eggs
• poultry
• seafood
• whole grains
  

Once iron enters the body, it’s carried throughout your bloodstream by a protein called transferrin, which is produced by your liver. The TIBC test evaluates how well transferrin carries iron through your blood. Once it’s in your blood, iron helps form hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an important protein in red blood cells (RBCs) that helps carry oxygen throughout the body so it can function normally. Iron is considered an essential mineral because hemoglobin can’t be made without it.

Your doctor may perform a TIBC test if you’re experiencing the symptoms of anemia. Anemia is characterized by a low RBC or hemoglobin count. Iron deficiency, the most common type of nutritional deficiency in the world, is usually the cause of anemia. However, iron deficiency may also be triggered by conditions such as pregnancy.

The symptoms of low iron levels include: 

• feeling tired and weak
• paleness
• an increase in infections
• always feeling cold
• a swollen tongue
• difficulty concentrating at school or work
• delayed mental development in children