TIBC and serum iron test at home in Dubai

Serum Iron. The amount of iron in the blood, almost all of it carried by a protein called transferrin.

TIBC & UIBC. Total iron binding capacity is how much iron transferrin could carry if every seat were full. Unsaturated iron binding capacity is the empty seats that are left.

% Transferrin Saturation. The share of transferrin seats that are filled with iron, worked out from serum iron and TIBC.

Iron is carried in the blood on transferrin and stored mostly as ferritin. When stores run low, the body makes more transferrin to catch every bit of iron it can, so TIBC rises and saturation falls. When there is too much iron, transferrin fills up, saturation rises and TIBC tends to fall. Read with ferritin, they show how iron is moving, not just how much you have.

This matters because ferritin alone can mislead. Ferritin rises with inflammation, so it can look normal when iron supply is actually short. A low saturation with a high TIBC points towards true iron deficiency, while a high saturation is the main early clue to iron overload. The iron test page covers the whole Iron Profile, and the ferritin test page explains stores in more depth.

• Tiredness, breathlessness or poor exercise tolerance
• Heavy periods, pregnancy or regular blood donation
• A plant-based diet or a history of gut problems
• A ferritin result that does not match how you feel
• A family history of iron overload

• Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen. Serum iron rises after meals and is usually higher in the morning, so a fasted morning draw is best.
• Tell your consultant about any iron supplement and when you last took it, because a recent dose can raise serum iron for a day or so.

Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.

This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.

• Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
• Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
• Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.

Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.

See everything the screen covers

What is the difference between ferritin and TIBC?

Ferritin reflects how much iron is stored. TIBC reflects how much iron the blood could carry. When stores fall, TIBC usually rises, so the two tend to move in opposite directions.

What does transferrin saturation tell me?

The share of the blood's iron carrying capacity in use. Low suggests supply is short, and high can be an early sign of too much iron.

Why does serum iron change so much between tests?

It rises after meals and supplements and follows a daily rhythm. That is why it is read with TIBC, saturation and ferritin, never alone.

Can I book a TIBC or serum iron test on its own?

No. Serum iron, TIBC, UIBC and transferrin saturation are part of the Iron Profile in the full home screen, measured from the same single draw.

Related tests

• Iron test
• Ferritin test
• Full blood count test
• HbA1c test

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.