Anemia #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel

This Anemia #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel includes:

• Iron w/TIBC - is used to test differential diagnosis of anemia, evaluate thalassemia and possible sideroblastic anemia, and evaluate iron poisoning. Specimen collection must be done before the patient is given therapeutic iron or blood transfusion. Iron determinations in patients who have had blood transfusions should be delayed by at least four days.
• Ferritin - is a protein in the body that binds to iron; most iron stored in the body is attached to ferritin. It is found in the liver, skeletal muscles, spleen, and bone marrow. Only a small amount of ferritin is located in the blood, and the amount in the blood shows how much iron is stored in your body.
• Transferrin - tests the plasma protein that binds to iron and then transports it through the circulation. Transferrin blood levels are used to evaluate iron deficiency and anemia. High transferrin levels are found in pregnancy, iron deficiency, and those taking birth control pills. It is low in cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, chronic inflammation, hereditary transferrin deficiency, or excessive amounts of iron in the body.

What is the purpose of this test?

Order this Anemia #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel to measure key biomarkers in a blood sample to help screen for an iron deficiency and other causes of anemia. The most common blood disorder in the U.S. is anemia. Anemia, sometimes called iron-poor blood, is characterized by the lack of oxygen-rich blood flowing throughout the body. Anemia affects the production of red blood cells (RBCs) and hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in RBCs that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin. Most people who have anemia have a lack of iron. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia.

What causes anemia?

Anemia has three leading causes:

• Blood loss
• Lack of red blood cell production
• High rates of red blood cell destruction

Additionally, other underlying health conditions may lead to anemia, such as:

• Heavy menstrual cycles
• Pregnancy
• Ulcers
• Colon polyps or colon cancer
• Inherited disorders
• A deficiency of iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12
• Blood disorders (sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, or cancer)
• Aplastic anemia
• G6PD deficiency

When should I order an Anemia #1 Baseline Blood Test Panel?

Individuals may order this panel if they have experienced symptoms related to anemia. Common signs or symptoms of anemia may include:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Cold hands and feet
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Irregular heartbeat