1. What is Iron Saturation?

Iron saturation measures the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that are occupied by iron. It helps evaluate iron status in the body and diagnose conditions like iron deficiency or iron overload.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the iron saturation formula:

Where:

• \( Serum\ Iron \) — Amount of iron circulating in the blood (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 distinguish between different types of anemia and can indicate iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter serum iron and TIBC values in μg/dL. Both values must be greater than 0 for calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal iron saturation range?
A: Typically 20-50%, but ranges may vary slightly by laboratory.

Q2: What does low iron saturation indicate?
A: Low saturation (<15-20%) suggests iron deficiency.

Q3: What does high iron saturation indicate?
A: High saturation (>50%) may indicate iron overload or hemochromatosis.

Q4: When should iron studies be performed?
A: When evaluating anemia, suspected iron disorders, or monitoring iron therapy.

Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: Results should be interpreted in clinical context with other iron studies (ferritin, etc.).