TIBC blood test in Chiswick

What the test measures

Iron travels in the blood attached to a carrier protein called transferrin. Total iron binding capacity, or TIBC, measures how much iron those carrier proteins could hold if they were fully loaded. In practice it is a close reflection of how much transferrin you have.

When iron stores run low, the liver makes more transferrin to capture as much iron as possible, so TIBC rises. When stores are high, TIBC tends to fall. TIBC is therefore read with serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation, which together give a much clearer view of iron status than any one test alone.

Your price includes the sample taken at our Chiswick clinic, analysis at the Randox accredited laboratory, a practitioner review of your result and a GP feedback report on request. No GP referral is needed.

Who it is for

• You feel tired, breathless on exertion or notice your heart racing, and want to check your iron.
• You have heavy periods, are pregnant or have recently given birth.
• You follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and want to make sure you are getting enough iron.
• You have a digestive condition that can affect absorption, such as coeliac disease.
• You have a family history of iron overload, or a previous ferritin result was raised.

Understanding your result

A raised TIBC, especially with a low ferritin and low iron, is a typical pattern of iron deficiency. It can also be raised in pregnancy or with the contraceptive pill, as oestrogen increases transferrin. A low TIBC can be seen with iron overload, long-term inflammation or infection, liver disease and malnutrition. Because inflammation can make iron results harder to read, your practitioner may look at markers such as CRP as well.

Your report shows the laboratory reference range. A result outside the range is a prompt for discussion with your practitioner, not a diagnosis.

Preparing for your test

A morning appointment is best, as serum iron, which is usually read with TIBC, is higher in the morning. Fasting is not essential for TIBC itself but helps keep iron results consistent, so you may prefer to come in before breakfast. Stop iron supplements and multivitamins containing iron for 24 hours beforehand, and tell us if you take the contraceptive pill or HRT.

TIBC is part of the Iron Status Check, which includes iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation, and of Omnia Essential Plus. You can also browse every blood test and price in Chiswick.

Questions

How much is a TIBC blood test in Chiswick?

A TIBC test costs £49. This includes your sample at our clinic, laboratory analysis, a practitioner review and a GP feedback report on request.

Is TIBC enough to check for iron deficiency?

Not on its own. Ferritin is the most useful single marker of iron stores, and TIBC adds context alongside iron and transferrin saturation.

Why does the pill affect TIBC?

Oestrogen increases the amount of transferrin the liver makes, which raises TIBC even when iron stores are normal.

What is the difference between TIBC and transferrin?

Transferrin is the carrier protein itself. TIBC measures how much iron the carriers can bind, so the two move closely together.