1. What is Iron Saturation?

Iron saturation, also called transferrin saturation, is a medical laboratory value that measures the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that are occupied by iron. It's an important indicator of iron status in the body.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the iron saturation formula:

Where:

• Iron — Serum iron concentration (μg/dL)
• TIBC — Total iron-binding capacity (μg/dL)

Explanation: The equation calculates what percentage of available iron-binding sites are actually occupied by iron.

3. Importance of Iron Saturation

Details: Iron saturation helps diagnose iron deficiency or iron overload conditions. Low saturation suggests iron deficiency, while high saturation may indicate hemochromatosis or iron overload.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter serum iron and TIBC values in μg/dL. Both values must be greater than zero for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are normal iron saturation values?
A: Normal range is typically 20-50%. Values below 20% may indicate iron deficiency, while above 50% may suggest iron overload.

Q2: How does this differ from serum ferritin?
A: Ferritin measures iron stores, while saturation reflects current iron availability for use.

Q3: When should iron studies be performed?
A: When evaluating anemia, suspected iron deficiency, or possible hemochromatosis.

Q4: Are there limitations to iron saturation?
A: Results can be affected by inflammation, liver disease, or recent iron intake.

Q5: What is UIBC and how does it relate?
A: UIBC (unsaturated iron-binding capacity) is TIBC minus serum iron, and can also be used to calculate saturation.