Transferrin saturation, measured as a percentage, is a medical laboratory value. It is the value of serum iron divided by the total iron-binding capacity. Of the transferrin that is available to bind iron, this value tells a clinician how much serum iron is bound. For instance, a value of 15% means that 15% of iron-binding sites of transferrin are being occupied by iron. For an explanation of some clinical situations in which this ratio is important, see Total iron-binding capacity. The three results are usually reported together.
Video Transferrin saturation
Usual values
Normal reference ranges are:
- Serum iron: 60-170 ?g/dL (10-30 ?mol/L)
- Total iron-binding capacity: 240-450 ?g/dL
- Transferrin saturation: 15-50% (males), 12-45% (females)
?g/dL = micrograms per deciliter ?mol/L = micromoles per liter
Laboratories often use different units and "normal" may vary by population and the lab techniques used. To help clinicians interpret their patients' results, laboratories are generally also required to report their normal or reference values.
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