Serum Iron

• Serum iron measures the amount of iron circulating in the bloodstream that is bound to transferrin.
• It reflects the amount of iron that is immediately available for use by tissues and cells.
• Expressed in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or micrograms per milliliter (mcg/mL).
• Low levels may indicate iron deficiency, while high levels could suggest iron overload.
• S. Iron normal range: 60-170 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL)

Serum Ferritin

• Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, primarily in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.
• It serves as a reservoir of iron and releases it into the bloodstream when needed.
• Expressed in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
• Elevated levels may indicate inflammation, while low levels are associated with iron deficiency.
• Serum ferritin normal range.
  • Women: 11-307 ng/mL
  • Men: 24-336 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)

Transferrin

• Transferrin is a protein that transports iron in the blood and delivers it to cells.
• It binds to iron and helps regulate its distribution in the body.
• Expressed as a percentage of saturation or total iron-binding capacity.
• Low transferrin saturation may suggest iron deficiency, while high levels can be seen in conditions like hemochromatosis.
• Normal range of transferrin:
  • Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC): 240-450 mcg/dL
  • Transferrin Saturation: 20-50%