Total Iron Binding Capacity (TBIC)—measures the amount of transferrin,
which is a blood protein that transports iron from the digestive system to cells that
will be utilizing the iron. Your body produces transferrin in relationship to the
body’s need for iron. When iron stores are low, transferrin levels will increase
and when transferrin levels are low, too much iron is present. Usually, about one
third of the transferrin is being used to transport iron at any one time. Because of
this, your blood serum has considerable extra iron-binding capacity, which is
called the Unsaturated Iron Biding Capacity (UIBC). The TIBC then equals
UIBC plus serum iron measurement. Some laboratories may measure UIBC,
some measure TIBC and others measure transferrin. TIBC is increased in iron-
deficiency, acute hepatitis, during pregnancy or when oral contraceptives are
used. TIBC is decreased in hypoproteinemia from many causes, cirrhosis of the
liver, nephrosis and thalassemia or from a number of inflammatory states.
TOTAL IRON
IRON
Men 65-175ug/dL 11.6-31.3 umol/L
Women 50-170ug/dL 9.0 -30.4 umol/L
Children 50-120ug/dL 9.0-21.5 umol/L
Newborns 100-250 ug/dL 17.9-44.8 umol/L