Iron Panel

What is the purpose of this test?

Iron is a crucial nutrient with various functions, including its necessity for the production of healthy red blood cells (RBCs). It plays a vital role in hemoglobin, the protein present in RBCs responsible for binding oxygen in the lungs and releasing it as blood circulates throughout the body. Since the body cannot produce iron on its own, it must be obtained through the consumption of iron-rich foods or supplements.

Under normal circumstances, iron is carried throughout the body via transferrin, a protein produced by the liver. In a healthy individual, the majority of iron is integrated into hemoglobin within developing red blood cells (RBCs) in the bone marrow. The surplus iron is stored in tissues as ferritin or hemosiderin, with small additional amounts utilized for various purposes, such as the production of other iron-containing proteins like myoglobin and certain enzymes.

The Iron Panel Test helps to assess the body's iron status, various substances in the blood are measured, helping to evaluate the amount of iron. These tests are typically ordered concurrently, and their results are collectively interpreted to aid in the diagnosis and/or monitoring of iron deficiency or overload.

What are the symptoms of Anemia?

Inadequate levels of circulating and stored iron may eventually result in iron deficiency anemia, characterized by decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit, as well as smaller and paler red blood cells. In the initial stages of iron deficiency, physical effects are typically not evident, and the depletion of stored iron may progress significantly before any signs or symptoms manifest.

For individuals who are otherwise healthy and experience gradual onset anemia over an extended period, symptoms may not become apparent until hemoglobin levels drop significantly below the normal limit of normal, owing to the body's gradual adaptation.

As iron deficiency advances, symptoms eventually emerge. Common signs of anemia include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, headaches, and pale skin.

Conversely, excessive iron can be toxic. Elevated iron storage and ferritin levels occur when the body absorbs more iron than it requires. Prolonged absorption of excess iron can lead to the gradual accumulation of iron compounds in organs, potentially causing dysfunction and failure.

An example of this is hemochromatosis, a rare genetic disorder characterized by the excessive absorption and buildup of iron, even with a normal diet. Additionally, iron overload can occur in individuals receiving repeated blood transfusions for various transfusion-dependent anemias.

When Iron tests may be ordered?

Iron tests may be ordered when you develop signs and symptoms of anemia such as:

• Chronic fatigue/tiredness
• Dizziness
• Weakness
• Headaches
• Pale skin (pallor)