Test Code TIBC PROFILE Total Iron Binding Capacity, Plasma or Serum
Specimen Requirements
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Plasma
Draw blood in a green-top (lithium heparin) tube(s) or a plasma gel
tube(s). Spin down and send 1 mL of lithium heparin plasma
refrigerated. Avoid hemolysis.
Note: 1. Iron supplements should be avoided
for 24 hours prior to draw.
2. Indicate plasma on request form.
3. Label specimen appropriately (plasma).
Serum
Draw blood in a plain, red-top tube(s) or a serum gel
tube(s). Spin down and send 1 mL of serum refrigerated. Avoid
hemolysis.
Note: 1. Iron supplements should be avoided for 24 hours prior to draw.
2. Indicate serum on request form.
3. Label specimen appropriately (serum).
Specimen Stability
Stable for:
Room temperature- 7 days
Refrigerated 3 weeks
Frozen several years
Performing Laboratory
Conway Regional Clinical Laboratory Services
Reference Values
TIBC
Males: 260-400 µg/dL
Females: 260-445 µg/dL
To calculate the % saturation, an iron and TIBC must both be performed (Iron divided by TIBC = % saturation).
% SATURATION
Males: 20-55%
Females: 15-50%
Methodology
Guanidine/FerroZine Method
Day(s) Test Set Up
Monday through Sunday
Available STAT
Test Classification and CPT Coding
83550