1. What is Transferrin Saturation?

Transferrin saturation is a medical laboratory value that represents the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that are occupied by iron. It is an important indicator of iron status in the body.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Transferrin Saturation formula:

Where:

• \( Iron \) — Serum iron concentration (µg/dL)
• \( TIBC \) — Total Iron Binding Capacity (µg/dL)

Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage of transferrin that is saturated with iron, providing insight into the body's iron availability and utilization.

3. Importance of Transferrin Saturation

Details: Transferrin saturation is crucial for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia, iron overload conditions like hemochromatosis, and monitoring iron therapy effectiveness.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter serum iron and TIBC values in µg/dL. Both values must be positive numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the normal range for transferrin saturation?
A: Normal values typically range from 20% to 50%, though reference ranges may vary slightly between laboratories.

Q2: What does low transferrin saturation indicate?
A: Low values (<20%) typically indicate iron deficiency anemia or chronic inflammation affecting iron utilization.

Q3: What does high transferrin saturation indicate?
A: High values (>50%) may indicate iron overload conditions such as hemochromatosis or excessive iron supplementation.

Q4: When should transferrin saturation be measured?
A: It should be measured when evaluating suspected iron disorders, monitoring iron therapy, or screening for hereditary hemochromatosis.

Q5: Are there limitations to this calculation?
A: Results can be affected by recent iron intake, inflammation, liver disease, and other factors that influence iron metabolism.