Lab test · Vitamins
Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Iron status, anaemia
- Blood sample
- No fasting
- Report within 24 hours
- Home collection
What this test is for
Iron status, anaemia
TIBC measures how much iron your blood could carry if all of its iron-carrying protein, transferrin, were full, so it is an indirect measure of transferrin. When iron stores are low, the body makes more transferrin and TIBC rises; when iron is plentiful, TIBC tends to fall. Read with serum iron, it helps your doctor work out whether you are short of iron or have too much.
Why a doctor may order it
- To investigate anaemia alongside serum iron and ferritin
- To tell iron deficiency apart from anaemia caused by long-term illness or inflammation
- To calculate transferrin saturation together with serum iron
- To look for iron overload
How to prepare
Fasting: Not needed.
No special preparation is needed and you can eat normally. Mention iron supplements, the contraceptive pill or pregnancy to your doctor, since these can affect TIBC. Continue your usual medicines unless advised otherwise.
At home
- Sample
- Blood sample
- How it works
- For TIBC, a trained collector draws a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm during a home visit. Serum iron can be measured from the same visit, as the two results are read together.
- Report
- Within 24 hours of collection.
What the results can mean
TIBC is reported with the laboratory's reference range. A high TIBC with low serum iron typically suggests iron deficiency, while a low or normal TIBC with low iron is more typical of anaemia linked to chronic illness or inflammation. A low TIBC can also occur with iron overload, malnutrition or liver disease. Your doctor will interpret TIBC alongside serum iron, transferrin saturation and ferritin.
What's included
One test: Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC), from one blood sample.
Related tests
- Serum IronIron status, anaemia৳450
- Iron Profile (Iron Studies)An iron profile is a group of blood tests that shows how much iron your body has and how it is being used.
- Serum FerritinIron stores, anaemia৳550
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)A complete blood count looks at the three main types of cells in your blood: red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help blood to clot.
- Haemoglobin (Hb)Haemoglobin is the protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)Vitamin B12, nerves & anaemia৳950
Questions people ask
What is transferrin saturation?
It is the share of transferrin that is carrying iron, worked out from serum iron and TIBC. A low value suggests iron deficiency and a high value can suggest iron overload.
What does a high TIBC mean?
A high TIBC usually means the body is trying to capture more iron because stores are low. It can also rise in pregnancy or with the contraceptive pill.
Is TIBC the same as transferrin?
They are closely related. TIBC measures how much iron transferrin can bind, so it is an indirect measure of transferrin. Some laboratories measure transferrin directly instead.
How much does a TIBC test cost in Dhaka?
With Mukti Health the price is ৳450, and the sample is collected at your home in Dhaka. You see the price again before you confirm the booking in the Mukti Health app.
Can I do the TIBC test at home in Dhaka?
Yes. Book it in the Mukti Health app and a trained sample collector comes to your home in Dhaka to take the blood sample. You do not need to go to a laboratory.
How long does the TIBC report take?
The report is usually ready within 24 hours of the sample being collected.