Iron Studies

This blood panel measures Fe (iron), transferrin and ferritin levels.  Iron is an essential trace element, which means the body cannot make it's own and it must be absorbed from the diet. Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, however both too little iron (iron deficiency) and too much iron (iron overload) can lead to disruption of various processes in the body.  

Transferrin binds to iron to transport it through the blood to where it needs to go. When iron stores are low, transferrin levels increase. When there is too much iron in the body, transferrin levels decrease.  Ferritin is a blood protein that stores iron, mainly in the liver, releasing it when the iron is needed to make new red blood cells. Measuring the level of ferritin in your blood may provide a good indication of the amount of iron stored in your body. 

Sample type: Blood

Turn around time: 1 day

More info: https://pathologytestsexplained.org.au/ptests.php?q=Iron+studies