🧲 Iron Studies Interpretation
Pattern reading of ferritin, transferrin saturation, TIBC and sTfR to separate iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease and iron overload. Browser-side.
Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant — use a higher cut-off (< 100) in inflammation.
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When to use
Combine the iron indices to classify iron status, accounting for inflammation's effect on ferritin.
How it works
IDA: ferritin ↓, TSAT < 20%, TIBC ↑. ACD: ferritin normal/↑, TSAT ↓, TIBC ↓/normal. Overload: TSAT > 45%.
Key points
- Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant — use a higher cut-off (< 100) in inflammation.
- sTfR is not affected by inflammation and helps separate IDA from ACD.
- TSAT > 45% screens for iron overload (check HFE).
- Estimate replacement with the Ganzoni iron-deficit tool.
References
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| View | Iron deficiency (IDA) |
|---|
→Iron studiesIron-deficiency anemia (IDA)
- Ferritin：↓ (< 30 µg/L highly suggestive; with inflammation < 100 may still be deficient)
- TSAT：↓ (< 20%)
- TIBC/transferrin：↑
| View | Index meanings |
|---|
→Iron studiesIndex meanings
- Ferritin：Reflects stored iron; but an acute-phase reactant, raised in inflammation/liver disease
- TSAT：= serum iron / TIBC × 100%, reflects available iron
- TIBC：≈ transferrin, ↑ in iron deficiency, ↓ in ACD
Frequently asked questions
- What is Iron Studies Interpretation?
- Pattern reading of ferritin, transferrin saturation, TIBC and sTfR to separate iron deficiency, anemia of chronic disease and iron overload. Browser-side.
- How is Iron Studies Interpretation calculated? What is the core formula?
- IDA: ferritin ↓, TSAT < 20%, TIBC ↑. ACD: ferritin normal/↑, TSAT ↓, TIBC ↓/normal. Overload: TSAT > 45%.
- When is Iron Studies Interpretation used?
- Combine the iron indices to classify iron status, accounting for inflammation's effect on ferritin.
- What are the key clinical points for Iron Studies Interpretation?
- Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant — use a higher cut-off (< 100) in inflammation. sTfR is not affected by inflammation and helps separate IDA from ACD. TSAT > 45% screens for iron overload (check HFE). Estimate replacement with the Ganzoni iron-deficit tool.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Iron Studies Interpretation?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Iron Studies Interpretation calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: View Iron deficiency (IDA) → Result: Iron studies Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA)（Ferritin: ↓ (< 30 µg/L highly suggestive; with inflammation < 100 may still be deficient), TSAT: ↓ (< 20%), TIBC/transferrin: ↑） Inputs: View Index meanings → Result: Iron studies Index meanings（Ferritin: Reflects stored iron; but an acute-phase reactant, raised in inflammation/liver disease, TSAT: = serum iron / TIBC × 100%, reflects available iron, TIBC: ≈ transferrin, ↑ in iron deficiency, ↓ in ACD）