1. What is % Iron Saturation?

% Iron Saturation is a measure of the percentage of transferrin (the main iron transport protein) that is saturated with iron. It helps evaluate iron status and diagnose iron deficiency or overload conditions.

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: This calculation shows what percentage of the iron-binding sites on transferrin are occupied by iron.

3. Importance of % Iron Saturation

Details: % Iron saturation is crucial for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia, iron overload disorders (hemochromatosis), and monitoring iron therapy. Low values indicate iron deficiency, while high values suggest 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 is the normal range for % iron saturation?
A: Normal range is typically 20-50%. Values below 20% suggest iron deficiency, while values above 50% may indicate iron overload.

Q2: How does % iron saturation differ from ferritin?
A: % Iron saturation measures circulating iron availability, while ferritin reflects iron storage. Both are important for complete iron status assessment.

Q3: When should % iron saturation be measured?
A: It should be measured when evaluating anemia, suspected iron disorders, or monitoring iron therapy. Morning fasting samples are preferred.

Q4: Can medications affect % iron saturation?
A: Yes, iron supplements, oral contraceptives, and some other medications can affect iron levels and % saturation results.

Q5: What conditions cause low % iron saturation?
A: Iron deficiency anemia, chronic diseases, inflammation, and inadequate dietary iron intake can all cause low % iron saturation.