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Epic Test Code LAB829 Iron Binding Capacity, Total (TIBC)

Performing Location(s)

BMC

Specimen Type

Serum

Preferred Container

Gold or Red top tube

Blood Tube Draw Volume

Min 50% draw volume  

Minimum Volume to Submit for Testing

0.5 mL Serum

  • Multiple test can be performed from this volume. For question please contact the lab at 547-3975.  

Storage Requirements

Sample tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hour of collection followed by transfer of the serum (red or gold top) or plasma (green top) to a labeled plastic, aliquot tube

See Causes of Rejection for temperature requirements.

 

Transportation Needs

Deliver specimen to the laboratory within 1 hour of collection. If not possible see “Storage Requirements”

Causes for Rejection

Mislabeled or unlabeled specimen
Less than 50% draw for Vacutainer tubes
>7 days refrigerated
> 4 days Room Temperature
> 40 days Frozen
Hemolysis > 50 mg/dL HgB
Lipemia > 4000 mg/dL Trig
Bilirubin > 40 mg/dL Bili
Heparin, EDTA, NaF

Limitations

Ferrous sulfate at 250 µg/dL increased IBCT results by 17%.

Interference from icterus (bilirubin 60 mg/dL [1026 mmol/L]),c hemolysis (hemoglobin 250 mg/dL [0.16 mmol/L] (monomer)) and lipemia 600 mg/dL [6.8 mmol/L] was less than 10% at a total iron binding capacity level of 260 µg/dL.

Reference Values

Population Units Reference Range
All populations ug/dL 250 - 450

TIBC (ug/dL) = Transferrin (mg/dL) x 1.4

Days of Analysis

All

Available STAT

No

Additional Information

Patient Preparation:

Blood should be collected after a 12-hour period of fasting by normal procedures

 

Contraindications:

Measurements of IBCT may be inaccurate if performed within 14 days of IV iron dextran administration. Studies have shown that gadodiamide containing contrast media used in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can produce analytic interference, both positive and negative, with assays performed in the clinical Laboratory for Calcium, Iron Magnesium, TIBC and Zinc. The package insert for Gadodiamide recommends waiting 12 to 24 hours between contrast agent administration and blood specimen collection to ensure that the contrast agent has been cleared. A longer waiting period might be necessary for patients with renal insufficiency. The average half-life of gadodiamide in patients with severely reduced renal function is 34 hours Miscellaneous Information: Percent Iron Saturation (aka Percent Transferrin Saturation) is calculated as follows: Iron Saturation (%) = (Serum Iron x 100 ) / TIBC

 

The measurement of serum iron, iron binding capacity, and iron (transferrin) saturation are only useful in screening for chronic iron overload diseases and for confirmation and monitoring of acute iron poisoning in children. Many factors influence serum iron concentration and TIBC. Changes that may be observed in various physiological or pathological conditions include: diurnal variation, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, ingestion of iron (including iron-fortified vitamins), oral contraceptives (progesterone-like), iron dextran injection, hepatitis, acute and chronic inflammation, iron deficiency, and iron overload (hemochromatosis). Furthermore, individuals with iron deficiency may have normal values for serum iron and TIBC. For these reasons, assays for serum iron, iron binding capacity and iron (transferrin) saturation should not be used as a test for iron deficiency.

 

Additional Information:

Serum should be removed from cells within 2 hours of venipuncture

Sample tubes should be centrifuged within 2 hours of collection followed by transfer of the serum (red or gold top) to a labeled plastic, aliquot tube.
This test is not available on a STAT basis. If an emergency request is necessary, call 3731 for availability. Pathologist approval may be required.

Methodology

Beckman AU/Dx Series

CPT Code

84466

Last Updated

20-Jan-20