Iron, Comprehensive Panel

FAQ

1. What is the relevance of having iron in a blood test?

   Iron is an essential element that allows the body to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all body parts. The results from this test will help screen for anemia, a condition where the body does not have enough red blood cells to carry oxygen.

2. What does an iron comprehensive panel test for?

   The Iron Comprehensive Panel test is a blood test that checks your level of:

   • Ferritin
   • Total serum Iron
   • Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
   • Percentage of saturation

   These results are used to determine deficiencies or imbalances in your iron levels. Iron is essential to producing hemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout the body. Low iron levels may cause you to become tired or out of breath easily.

3. Who may need an iron comprehensive panel?

   A comprehensive iron panel may be ordered if your doctor suspects you are anemic or has found low red blood cell levels in other tests. Hypochromic people may have low levels of stored iron, resulting in their red blood cells being paler than normal.

   This test can also be ordered for healthy individuals before a procedure or surgery to evaluate their risk of developing anemia.

4. What causes high iron levels in the blood?

   Iron-overload disorders could cause high iron levels in the blood, such as:

   • Hemochromatosis
   • Hereditary transferrin receptor 2 (HFE2) disease
   • Transfusional siderosis
   • Low iron levels are most often due to a poor iron-rich diet, but it can also be due to:
   • Chronic inflammation
   • Tuberculosis
   • Malaria
   • Cholera
   • AIDS

5. What’s the difference between ferritin and iron blood test?

   Ferritin and iron tests are used to determine if a person is suffering from anemia and the level of iron in the body is low. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body; it is released into your blood when your body requires more iron to function properly. Meanwhile, iron is needed to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen through the blood. Therefore, testing both ferritin and iron will allow for a more comprehensive diagnosis.

6. Do I need to visit a doctor?

   Nope. You don't need a doctor's visit to get a test with us.

7. How do I get my results?

   You'll get your results via email as soon as they are available. We will notify you via SMS as well. You can also see them at any time in the future right in your dashboard where you can easily share them with your professional and compare them side by side with future tests.

8. Does my lab prescription expire?

   We're the only lab that honors your lab order forever.