Iron:
Why Iron Test?
CLINICAL INFORMATION
Iron is vital for healthy muscles, bone marrow, organ functions, transportation of oxygen in RBCs (Iron in the haemoglobin has the affinity for oxygen and hence it binds to it), and in the Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain (ETC), for the electron transport within cells (it thus helps the cells to generate energy). Iron has a major role in the growth and development, normal metabolism, synthesis of DNA, hormones, Reticulo-Endothelial (RES) System within the immune system (ferritin, hemosiderin) etc. The most important aspect of iron is that it has one-way metabolism. Hence when these normal iron levels when get increased or decreased, these altered levels can lead to associated disorders like hemochromatosis. Ferritin is an acute phase (cytosolic protein) reactant and its level is increased in inflammation. Moreover, it has antioxidant properties and thus prevents free-radical mediated cellular damages (eg. Reactive Oxygen Species - ROS). Ferritin is a protein in blood cells that stores iron hence buffers between iron deficiency and iron overload. Ferritin is an Iron Storing Protein (it stores iron inside the cells – like RBCs) and releases it when the body is deprived of iron, while Transferrin is a protein that combines with ferritin to transport it (mainly to new RBCs). Ferritin (blood) test helps to estimate the iron (ferritin test indirectly measures iron levels in the blood) stored in the body eg. Low ferritin is strong evidence for iron deficiency, thus provides vital information such as iron deficiency anaemia, hemochromatosis – inherited genetic disorder causes iron overload (HFE Gene test confirms it), blood in stool, brittle nails, vertigo, bleeding in GIT etc. Low ferritin can also result, due to excessive menstrual bleeding, stomach conditions that affect intestinal absorption, internal bleeding etc. An iron test is indicated if the suspected patient has too low or high levels of iron in the body. This test checks for conditions such as anaemia, iron overload (excess iron) etc. Clinical manifestations of low (iron) ferritin include dizziness, irritability, pica (craving for chalk, dust, soil etc), pallor (paleness / pale skin), chronic headaches, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, anaemia, fatigue or tiredness (loss of energy), hair loss, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, IBD, anxiety, depression and also certain cancers (are associated with low iron levels). When this condition is neglected, in chronic stages it leads to complications like it causes symptoms of chest pain, tinnitus (ringing sensation like whooshing or pounding sound in the ears), leg pain (restless legs syndrome) etc. The signs and symptoms of high iron levels include stomach ache, unexplained weakness (exhaustion) and fatigue, chest pain or heart palpitations, joint pain, loss of body hair, low sex drive, weight loss, abdomen pain etc. High serum iron levels are found to be elevated in patients with Type- 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Obesity, iron poisoning, Macrophage Activated Syndrome (MAS), Anti-Phospholipid Syndrome (APS), septic shock, liver diseases, spleen damage/splenectomy, rheumatoid arthritis, hyperthyroidism, Porphyria (a group of disorders that affects the skin and nervous system), inflammatory diseases (eg. Adult Still’s a disease – inflammatory Arthritis) and certain cancers like - lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, Hepato-Cellular Carcinoma - HCC, colorectal cancer, leukaemia, lymphoma (Hodgkin’s), multiple blood transfusion, alcohol abuse, high intake of iron supplements etc. High iron levels when untreated in chronic stages can also damage joints, heart, liver, pancreas etc. The iron test is indicated in patients with suspected abnormalities (high or low) associated with it eg. Anemia (low iron), hemochromatosis (excess iron) etc. The iron test includes serum iron (this test measures amount of iron in the blood), serum ferritin (this test measures iron stored in the body) etc. Additional tests include Hb concentration, Hematocrit, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), Test for transferrin, Unsaturated Iron-Binding Capacity – UIBC, Zinc Protophorphyrin, HFE Gene test (to confirm the presence of hereditary hemochromatosis) etc.
General Instructions:
Sample Requirement: Specimen - Blood sample collected from the vein. Test Preparation: Fasting Required.
NOTE - Sample for specimen collections may vary based on the patient’s condition/cases according to the patient’s presenting complaints/signs or symptoms:
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT (Special or Rare Cases) - As instructed and guided by Physician / Clinician / Pathologist / as per Laboratory’s requirements, according to procedures and protocols.
This Multi-Specialty Clinical Referral Laboratory RT DIAGNOSTICS provides precise and accurate tests with an extensive range of testing services to the medical centres to help in the diagnosis and identification of pathology in the test specimens for infectious diseases and also to evaluate the function of organ systems of the patient. It prevents further complications and helps to stabilize and restore health to near normalcy at the earliest without delay.
