ANEMIA IN THE ELDERLY

	Clinical Overview
	Laboratory Parameters

		Laboratory Parameters in Anemia Diagnosis
		Hemoglobin		Serum Ferritin
		Hematocrit		Serum Folate
		Total Reticulocyte Count		Serum Vitamin B12
		Serum Iron		The Schilling Test
		Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)		Serum Erythropoietin

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)

TIBC is an indirect measure of serum transferrin.

TIBC is determined by adding an excess amount of iron to the plasma to saturate all the transferrin. Any excess or unbound iron is then removed and serum iron concentration is determined.

Percent transferrin saturation is the ratio of serum iron to TIBC (serum iron/TIBC x 100).

A low serum iron concentration and a high TIBC indicates iron-deficiency anemia.¹³  In iron-deficiency anemia, as the serum iron decreases and TIBC increases, the percent transferrin saturation will become less than 13 percent.¹³

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Site Reviewed August 2007