1. What is Iron Saturation With Transferrin?

Iron saturation with transferrin measures the percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron. It's an important indicator of iron status in the body, helping to diagnose iron deficiency or iron overload conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the iron saturation formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Iron}_{\mu mol/L} \) — Serum iron concentration in micromoles per liter
• \( \text{Transferrin}_{g/L} \) — Transferrin concentration in grams per liter
• 25.1 — Conversion factor (micromoles of iron per gram of transferrin)

Explanation: The equation calculates what percentage of transferrin's iron-binding capacity is actually occupied by iron.

3. Importance of Iron Saturation Calculation

Details: Iron saturation helps evaluate iron metabolism disorders. Low saturation suggests iron deficiency, while high saturation may indicate hemochromatosis or iron overload.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter iron concentration in μmol/L and transferrin concentration in g/L. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a normal iron saturation percentage?
A: Normal range is typically 20-50%. Values below 20% may indicate iron deficiency, while above 50% may suggest iron overload.

Q2: How does this differ from TIBC?
A: Transferrin is the main iron-binding protein, and TIBC (total iron-binding capacity) is an indirect measure of transferrin. This calculation uses direct transferrin measurement.

Q3: When should iron saturation be measured?
A: When evaluating suspected iron disorders, monitoring iron therapy, or assessing for hemochromatosis.

Q4: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: Results can be affected by inflammation, liver disease, or recent iron ingestion. Always interpret in clinical context.

Q5: How often should this test be repeated?
A: Frequency depends on clinical situation - for monitoring therapy, every 3-6 months may be appropriate.