Serum Iron Level

Also known as Serum Iron; Serum Fe; Fe blood test

Why test for Serum iron level at Symbion VIP Diagnostics, Ahmedabad ?

Serum Iron Level blood test is also known as Serum Iron; Serum Fe; Fe blood test.

Serum Iron Level blood test is frequently done with other related lab tests such as  Ferritin; TIBC, UIBC and Transferrin; Hemoglobin; Hematocrit; Complete Blood Count; Reticulocyte Count; Zinc Protoporphyrin; Iron Tests; Soluble Transferrin Receptor.

A serum iron test measures how much iron is in your serum. Serum is the liquid that’s left over from your blood when red blood cells and clotting factors have been removed.

The serum iron test can reveal abnormally low or high blood iron levels. Your doctor will most likely order this test after another lab test shows an abnormal result.

Having too much iron — or not enough — can cause serious health problems. This test will help your doctor give you a more accurate diagnosis.

Symptoms of abnormal iron levels:

Early symptoms of iron deficiency (anemia) include:

• chronic fatigue
• dizziness
• headaches
• muscle weakness

You may develop other symptoms as your condition worsens. These may include:

• difficulty concentrating
• grumpiness
• tongue and mouth sores
• pica (the compulsion to eat nonfood items, such as paper or ice chips)
• misshapen nails

Symptoms of iron overload (when your body produces too much iron) include:

• pain in your abdomen and joints
• bronzing or darkening of skin
• fatigue
• heart problems
• lack of energy
• lack of sex drive
• weight loss
• muscle weakness

These symptoms generally get worse as your condition progresses.

Abnormal serum iron test results
Abnormally high iron serum levels may mean you’ve consumed too much iron, vitamin B-6, or vitamin B-12. High levels of iron may indicate:

• hemolytic anemia or hemolysis: your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells
• liver conditions: such as hepatic necrosis (liver failure) and hepatitis
• iron poisoning: you’ve taken more than the recommended dose of iron supplements
• iron overload: your body naturally retains too much iron

Abnormally low iron levels may mean you haven’t consumed enough iron or your body isn’t absorbing the iron properly. Regularly having heavy menstrual periods can also lead to low iron levels.

Low iron levels may also indicate:

• anemia
• pregnancy
• gastrointestinal blood loss

The laboratory test results are NOT to be interpreted as results of a "stand-alone" test. The test results have to be interpreted after correlating with suitable clinical findings and additional supplemental tests/information. Your healthcare providers will explain the meaning of your tests results, based on the overall clinical scenario.