Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel
See circulating iron, binding capacity, and saturation as one interpretable pattern.
- No doctor visit or referral needed
- Members pay our cost on every test, never a markup
- Tracked over time alongside your other results
- HSA/FSA eligible
- Typical results in 1 day · Reviewed by a real clinician
- Drawn at a CLIA/CAP-accredited lab near you · Find labs
Why people order the Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel
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Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, breathlessness, or reduced exercise tolerance
These symptoms are nonspecific, but the panel can add iron-transport context when they are evaluated with ferritin, a complete blood count, and clinical history.
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Clarify iron availability alongside ferritin and a complete blood count
Ferritin adds stored-iron context, while the blood count shows whether anemia and red-cell changes are present.
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Follow a clinician-managed iron condition or treatment
Comparable timing, supplement use, and laboratory conditions make serial patterns more interpretable.
Who may consider the Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel
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Heavy menstrual bleeding, gastrointestinal blood loss, or frequent blood donation
Ongoing or repeated blood loss can reduce iron availability and is important context for the combined iron, TIBC, and saturation pattern.
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Pregnancy-related needs, a low-iron diet, or impaired absorption
Higher requirements, restricted intake, and gastrointestinal conditions can contribute to an iron-deficiency pattern.
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Personal or family history that raises concern about iron overload
Higher iron and saturation may justify clinician-directed follow-up, but this panel alone cannot diagnose hereditary hemochromatosis or organ iron loading.
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A prior abnormal iron, ferritin, saturation, or blood-count result
The combined pattern can help clarify an earlier isolated result when interpreted under comparable collection conditions.
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Inflammatory, liver, kidney, or blood disorders that can alter iron patterns
These conditions can change serum iron, binding capacity, saturation, and ferritin in ways that do not follow a simple deficiency pattern.
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Distinguish depleted iron availability from an inflammation-related pattern
Low serum iron can occur in both settings, so TIBC, saturation, ferritin, the blood count, and inflammation context are interpreted together.
Will every laboratory provider return the same results with this panel?
No. Every current active provider returns serum iron, TIBC, and iron saturation. The mapped Labcorp assay also returns UIBC as a fourth provider-specific result. The extra UIBC result does not turn the product into a ferritin or complete blood count panel.
Should I order ferritin with Iron + TIBC?
Add ferritin when you also need information about stored iron. Iron + TIBC describes circulating iron, binding capacity, and saturation but does not include ferritin. The tests are often interpreted together when a fuller iron assessment is needed.
Should I add a complete blood count if anemia is part of the question?
Yes, a complete blood count is the test that adds hemoglobin and red-cell context. Iron + TIBC alone cannot determine whether anemia is present. The complete blood count is a separate product.
Do I need to fast, test in the morning, or delay testing after iron treatment or a transfusion?
Follow the preparation instructions attached to the selected order because morning or fasting collection may be requested. Record iron supplements, recent therapeutic iron, and recent transfusion because they can affect interpretation, and do not change treatment solely for the test. When following a trend, keep collection time, fasting state, and supplement timing comparable where practical.
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What the Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel measures
See circulating iron, binding capacity, and saturation as one interpretable pattern.
This panel combines three canonical results from the same specimen: serum iron measures circulating iron at collection time, TIBC estimates the blood's transferrin-related carrying capacity, and iron saturation calculates the percentage of that capacity occupied by iron.
The active Labcorp assay also reports UIBC, the unoccupied portion of iron-binding capacity. UIBC is a provider-specific extra, not a fourth result promised for every order.
This panel provides more context than standalone serum iron and answers a different question from ferritin, which primarily reflects stored iron. It does not include a complete blood count and cannot diagnose anemia, iron deficiency, hemochromatosis, inflammation, liver disease, or another condition by itself.
- Specimen
- Blood sample (serum preferred)
- Reported biomarkers
- Iron, Iron Saturation, Total Iron Binding Capacity
- Biomarker count
- 3 biomarkers
- Fasting
- Special preparation needed (morning fasting may apply)
- Results
- On your Mito dashboard in 1 day, with your range explained
- Reference ranges
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Quest Diagnostics Test 7573 selected Labcorp Test 001321 selected
Quest Diagnostics Test 7573
Iron, Total
- Male, 4-19 years 27-164 ug/dL
- Female, 4-19 years 27-164 ug/dL
- Male, 20-29 years 50-195 ug/dL
- Female, 20-29 years 40-190 ug/dL
- Male, 30-49 years 50-180 ug/dL
- Female, 30-49 years 40-190 ug/dL
- Male, 50 years and older 50-180 ug/dL
- Female, 50 years and older 45-160 ug/dL
Iron Binding Capacity
- Male, 1-19 years 271-448 ug/dL
- Female, 1-19 years 271-448 ug/dL
- Male, 20 years and older 250-425 ug/dL
- Female, 20 years and older 250-450 ug/dL
Iron Saturation
- Male, 13-19 years 16-48 %
- Female, 13-19 years 15-45 %
- Male, 20 years and older 20-48 %
- Female, 20 years and older 16-45 %
Labcorp Test 001321
Iron
- Male, 18-60 years 38-169 ug/dL
- Female, 18-60 years 27-159 ug/dL
UIBC
- Male, 18-60 years 111-343 ug/dL
- Female, 18-60 years 131-425 ug/dL
TIBC
- All, All published populations 250-450 ug/dL
Iron saturation
- All, All published populations 15-55 %
Your results
How to understand your Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel result
Interpret all results together using the reference information on the performing laboratory's report. Provider intervals vary by age, sex, assay, and result, and should not be copied between laboratories. Serum iron also varies with time of day and collection conditions.
Pattern compatible with depleted iron availability
Lower serum iron, higher TIBC, and lower saturation can support iron deficiency. The pattern is not diagnostic by itself. Ferritin, a complete blood count, symptoms, and the reason for iron loss, low intake, or impaired absorption provide essential context.
Pattern that can occur with inflammation or chronic disease
Lower serum iron with low or normal TIBC and low or normal saturation can occur when inflammation changes iron transport. Ferritin may also rise during inflammation, so the combined results must be interpreted with illness, liver, kidney, and hematologic context.
Pattern compatible with excess circulating iron or iron loading
Higher serum iron and saturation can occur with iron overload, iron treatment, transfusion, hemolysis, liver disease, or other causes. One pattern does not diagnose hereditary hemochromatosis, identify the cause, or determine whether organs contain excess iron.
Provider-specific results
- UIBC: UIBC is the unoccupied portion of iron-binding capacity. It is reported only by the mapped Labcorp assay and does not change the three-result promise for Quest or BioReference.
How much the Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel costs
Compare exact Mito member and non-member prices with recently checked comparable offers. Collection and lab fees are shown separately.
| Lab | Test price | Collection or lab fee |
|---|---|---|
| Mito member | $4.91 | $15.00 Added once per order |
| Mito non-member | $6.88 | $15.00 Added once per order |
| Goodlabs | $7.00 | $12.00 $12 per visit, included in the final checkout total |
| Marek Diagnostics | $9.50 | $10.00 $10 added at checkout for an individual biomarker or custom panel |
| DrSays | $8.99 | $9.99 $9.99 collection fee per order |
| Jason Health | $5.00 | $18.00 $18 lab collection fee per order |
| Ulta Lab Tests | $23.95 | $12.95 $12.95 standard draw fee; some locations may charge more |
| Walk-In Lab | $32.00 | $6.00 $6 per-order physician fee |
Mito prices come from the live catalog for the selected provider. Competitor prices were checked August 22, 2026. Published standalone item price plus the separately disclosed collection or checkout fee.
See the full Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel cost comparison for provider details and comparison notes.
How it works
What to expect from your Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel
- 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 schedule, usually 15 minutes or less. Walk-in and appointments available. Follow the preparation instructions for your order.
- 3 Results in 1 day
Your result posts straight to your dashboard as soon as the lab completes it.
- 4 Expert guidance
With membership, a clinician reviews your result and a personalized action plan follows, with clear next steps.
Every result comes with a plan
A number on its own does not tell you much. Membership is what turns it into next steps, and keeps track of what changes.
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Insights that connect the dots. A clinician reads your whole picture, not one result in isolation, connecting family history, past results, and lifestyle into clear next steps.
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Your personalized action plan. Nutrition, supplements, and training in one clinician-reviewed protocol, updated as your results change.
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Track your trends. Upload results from any lab and see each biomarker trend over time, so you know what is working.
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Never miss a recheck. Mito tells you what is worth retesting and when, then reminds you so nothing slips.
Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel testing you can trust
Run to clinical-grade standards
- Processed at the same CLIA and CAP-accredited national labs your doctor uses
- Order online, no doctor visit or referral needed
- Your data is encrypted, handled under HIPAA, and never sold
Overseen by our Care Team Lead
Every result, including your Mito Brain analysis, is checked by Rhonda Collins, FNP-C, our Care Team Lead and a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years of nursing experience across cardiac ICU, primary care, and dermatology.
Meet RhondaEverything your health needs,
in one membership
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Every test at our cost
Members pay our cost on every test, with lab fees passed straight through. The full receipt is itemized, never padded.
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Continuous tracking, all in one place
Upload past labs and watch your trends over time. Every marker and visit lives in one longitudinal record, so all your care stays together.
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Year-round clinician support
Text anytime and get clinician-reviewed answers. When you want to go deeper, 1:1 consultations are available at affordable rates.
Common Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel questions
What does this panel measure?
Why test these results together?
Is this the same as a ferritin test?
Can this panel diagnose iron deficiency or anemia?
What pattern can support iron deficiency?
Can inflammation change the pattern?
What can a high saturation result mean?
Why might Labcorp show UIBC?
Can I compare results across laboratories?
Can supplements or a transfusion affect the result?
How do availability and prices vary by state?
Available in all 50 states and Washington, DC.
| States | Provider | Availability | Member price | Non-member price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All states and DC except NJ, NY, and RI | Labcorp | Available | $12.33 | $17.27 |
| All states and DC except NJ, NY, and RI | Quest Diagnostics | Available | $4.91 | $6.88 |
| NJ, NY, and RI | BioReference | Available | $10.98 | $15.38 |