What is transferrin saturation (iron saturation)?
Transferrin saturation (also called iron saturation) is a blood test used to measure the amount of iron bound to transferrin, a protein that carries iron in the blood.
What can a low or high transferrin saturation (iron saturation) mean?
A low transferrin saturation can be seen in iron deficiency. If you have an excess of iron (as in, for example, hemochromatosis), an elevated transferrin saturation is seen. Transferrin saturation can be affected in various diseases and conditions.
Transferrin saturation is calculated with the formula Iron/TIBC*100. Normally, transferrin is saturated with iron to about 30%.