TIBC - TOTAL IRON BINDING CAPACITY

The Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) test measures the blood’s ability to bind and transport iron. This test evaluates how much iron is carried by transferrin, a protein that binds to iron and helps transport it throughout the body. TIBC reflects the capacity of transferrin to bind iron and is used to assess iron metabolism.

The TIBC test is typically ordered to:

• Diagnose iron deficiency: In cases of suspected anemia, TIBC helps evaluate how efficiently iron is being transported.
• Assess iron overload: Conditions where there’s too much iron in the blood (e.g., hemochromatosis) may show low TIBC levels.
• Evaluate anemia: Helps differentiate between different types of anemia (e.g., iron deficiency anemia vs. anemia of chronic disease).