Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel
Iron level plus its carrying capacity and saturation, the core trio for sorting out iron deficiency from overload.
Consider this test if:
- Unexplained fatigue, weakness, hair loss, or breathlessness on exertion
- Heavy periods, a vegetarian or vegan diet, or known blood loss
- A family history of hemochromatosis or a high ferritin flagged on prior labs
- Sorting out an anemia found on a blood count (low MCV or hypochromia)
- Tracking whether iron supplements are restoring your levels
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1 day · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you ·
Pre-test considerations
A morning draw is preferred, since serum iron is highest in the morning and varies through the day. Fasting is commonly recommended. Take the sample before any therapeutic iron is given, and if you have had a blood transfusion, wait at least four days. If you take iron supplements, note the dose and timing, since they raise serum iron.
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What this test is for
This panel measures serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC, the blood's capacity to transport iron via transferrin), and transferrin saturation (the percentage of that capacity actually filled). Read together they separate the common causes of abnormal iron: in iron deficiency, iron is low, TIBC is high, and saturation is low; in iron overload or hemochromatosis, iron is high and saturation is very high; in anemia of chronic disease, both iron and TIBC tend to run low. Saturation is often the more useful number than iron alone for catching iron-deficiency anemia, which connects to fatigue, weakness, hair loss, shortness of breath, and poor exercise tolerance. Serum iron swings with diet and time of day, so it is interpreted alongside TIBC and saturation rather than in isolation, and ferritin is the earliest marker of depleted stores when inflammation is absent.
The separate stand-alone Iron, Total test measures serum iron only; this panel adds TIBC and saturation, which is what makes it useful for distinguishing deficiency from overload or chronic-disease patterns.
Biomarkers tested
Includes 3 biomarkers
Serum iron measures the iron circulating in your blood right now, on its way to the bone marrow to build hemoglobin. It swings with recent diet, time of day, and inflammation, so it works best alongside ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation rather than alone. Low levels help investigate fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and poor exercise tolerance, while high levels can flag hemochromatosis or excess supplementation worth catching before it strains the liver and heart.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
Iron saturation, also called transferrin saturation, calculates the percentage of transferrin (the protein that carries iron through your blood) that's actually loaded with iron. Low saturation points to iron deficiency, useful for investigating fatigue, hair loss, poor exercise tolerance, or restless legs, especially alongside ferritin and total iron. High saturation is the key early flag for hemochromatosis, a condition where the body absorbs too much iron and stores excess in the liver, heart, and joints.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass fraction (%)
TIBC measures how much iron your blood could carry if every binding site on transferrin were filled, reflecting how hungry your body is for iron. TIBC rises when iron stores run low, since the liver produces more transferrin to hunt down whatever iron is available, and it falls with inflammation, liver disease, or iron overload. Paired with iron and ferritin, it helps distinguish true iron deficiency (high TIBC, low iron) from the low iron levels that chronic inflammation causes, useful for investigating fatigue, hair loss, poor exercise tolerance, or restless legs.
- Specimen
- Serum or plasma
- Measures
- Mass concentration
What to expect
- 1 Book instantly
Click, book, done. Choose a convenient lab location near you. Transparent, up-front pricing.
- 2 Quick lab visit
Testing to fit your busy schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available.
- 3 Typical results in 1 day
Your results post straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes them.
- 4 Expert guidance
Included with Mito membership. A clinician reviews your results and your personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
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Frequently asked questions
View all FAQsHow does pricing work?
Every test shows the member price next to the standard non-member price, so you can see what membership saves you. The member price is our cost — covering the lab and what it takes to run the service — never a profit on the test itself; Mito makes its money on the $9 membership, not on marking up your tests. Membership is $9/mo, and you still pay the lab’s order fee. Prices are itemized before you pay, with no hidden fees.
Where do I get tested?
Choose a partner lab (Quest, Labcorp, or BioReference) at checkout. If your cart spans multiple tests, we consolidate the whole order onto a single lab so you only make one visit.
Is this eligible for HSA/FSA?
Yes. This test is HSA/FSA eligible, and you can pay with your HSA/FSA card at checkout.
When will I get my results?
Your results post to your dashboard once your lab completes them, then a clinician reviews them and your full analysis and personalized action plan (with clear next steps) follow. Turnaround varies by test: specialty assays and at-home kits take longer, and each test shows its expected turnaround before you buy.
Do I need a doctor’s order?
No. Mito provides the lab order for you, so you can book and get tested without a separate doctor visit.
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