What does it mean if my TIBC is high?

High TIBC means that you have low levels of iron. When there isn’t much iron to attach to, you’ll have a lot of free transferrin in your blood. Low iron levels can lead to iron deficiency anemia, a condition in which your body doesn’t have enough iron to make healthy red blood cells.

What does it mean when your TIBC is low?

Lower-than-normal TIBC may mean: Anemia due to red blood cells being destroyed too quickly (hemolytic anemia) Lower-than-normal level of protein in the blood (hypoproteinemia) Inflammation.

Why is TIBC high in iron deficiency?

In iron-deficient conditions, the relative transferrin content compared to iron content increases, and thus the TIBC values are high. The opposite happens in iron overloaded states of the body; the quantity of free transferrin in blood decreases, and consequently, TIBC values are low.

What does TIBC tell you?

A total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test measures the blood’s ability to attach itself to iron and transport it around the body. A transferrin test is similar. If you have iron deficiency (a lack of iron in your blood), your iron level will be low but your TIBC will be high.

What does high TIBC and UIBC mean?

A high TIBC, UIBC, or transferrin usually indicates iron deficiency, but they are also increased in pregnancy and with the use of oral contraceptives. A low TIBC, UIBC, or transferrin may also occur if someone has malnutrition, inflammation, liver disease, or nephrotic syndrome.

What does low TIBC and UIBC mean?

What is TIBC in blood work?

What is a normal TIBC level?

Normal results for TIBC are 250 to 450 mcg/dL for men and women. Some common causes for a low amount of iron in your blood include: Iron deficiency anemia.

What does TIBC stand for in medical terms?

TIBC; Anemia -TIBC. Share. Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a blood test to see if you have too much or too little iron in your blood. Iron moves through the blood attached to a protein called transferrin. This test helps your health care provider know how well that protein can carry iron in your blood.

What is total iron- binding capacity (TIBC)?

Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) is an indicator of your body’s iron levels. Keep reading to learn more about high and low levels and what they mean for your health, as well as how to improve TIBC. Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) measures the total capacity of your blood to bind and transport iron.

What is the difference between TIBC and UIBC?

Iron binding capacity is of two types, TIBC and unsaturated iron-binding capacity (UIBC). When iron stores are depleted, the transferrin levels increase in the blood. As only one-third of transferrin is saturated with iron, so the transferrin present in serum has an extra binding capacity (67%). This is unsaturated iron-binding capacity.

What is the relationship between TIBC and inflammation?

This means that in inflammation, as the liver increases the production of inflammation-associated proteins (e.g. CRP, ferritin) it decreases the production of transferrin. As transferrin decreases, so does iron binding capacity and therefore TIBC [ 10, 11 ].