1. What is Transferrin Saturation?

Transferrin saturation (TS) is a medical laboratory value that represents the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that are occupied by iron. It is calculated from serum iron and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) measurements.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the transferrin saturation formula:

Where:

• Serum Iron — Amount of iron circulating in the blood (µmol/L)
• TIBC — Total Iron-Binding Capacity, the maximum amount of iron that transferrin can bind (µmol/L)

Explanation: The equation calculates the percentage of transferrin iron-binding sites that are currently occupied by iron, providing insight into iron status and metabolism.

3. Importance of TS Calculation

Details: Transferrin saturation is crucial for diagnosing iron deficiency anemia, iron overload conditions (hemochromatosis), and monitoring iron therapy. Abnormal levels can indicate various hematological and metabolic disorders.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter serum iron and TIBC values in µmol/L. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the transferrin saturation percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are normal transferrin saturation values?
A: Normal TS values typically range from 20% to 50%. Values below 20% may indicate iron deficiency, while values above 50% may suggest iron overload.

Q2: Why measure transferrin saturation?
A: TS helps differentiate between various types of anemia, diagnose hemochromatosis, and monitor iron therapy effectiveness.

Q3: When should TS be measured?
A: TS is typically measured when iron deficiency or overload is suspected, or when monitoring patients with known iron metabolism disorders.

Q4: Are there limitations to TS measurement?
A: TS can be affected by recent iron intake, inflammation, liver disease, and other factors. It should be interpreted in clinical context with other iron studies.

Q5: How does TS relate to ferritin?
A: While TS measures circulating iron availability, ferritin measures iron storage. Both are important for comprehensive iron status assessment.