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Iron Studies Interpreter

Ferritin · Serum Iron · TIBC · Transferrin Saturation · IDA vs ACD vs Overload

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Iron Studies

Ferritin ★ Most important

ng/mL (µg/L)

Normal M: 30–400 F: 15–150 ng/mL

Serum Iron

µg/dL

Normal M: 65–175 F: 50–170 µg/dL

TIBC

µg/dL

Normal: 250–370 µg/dL

Transferrin Saturation (auto-calc if blank)

Normal: 20–50%

Clinical Context (optional — improves accuracy)

Hemoglobin

g/dL

MCV

RBC (for Mentzer)

×10⁶/µL

CRP (inflammation marker)

mg/L

Normal: < 5 mg/L (CRP elevates ferritin)

Soluble TfR (sTfR)

mg/L

Normal: 0.8–1.8 mg/L. Elevated in IDA, not ACD.

Iron Studies Pattern Reference

Diagnosis	Ferritin	Serum Iron	TIBC	Tsat	sTfR
Iron Deficiency (IDA)	↓ Low	↓ Low	↑ High	↓ < 20%	↑ Elevated
Anemia of Chronic Disease (ACD)	↑ Normal–High	↓ Low	↓ Low/Normal	↓ Low/Normal	Normal
IDA + ACD (mixed)	Low–Normal	↓ Low	Variable	↓ Low	↑ Elevated
Iron Overload / Haemochromatosis	↑↑ High	↑ High	↓ Low/Normal	↑ > 45%	Normal
Thalassemia	Normal–High	Normal–High	Normal	Normal–High	Normal
Normal	Normal	Normal	Normal	20–50%	Normal

Source: Camaschella C. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. NEJM 2015; Weiss G, Goodnough LT. Anemia of Chronic Disease. NEJM 2005.