A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Iron & Anemia Panel

Iron stores, blood count, B12, and folate, from one morning draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
Morning draw is best
Before 10 a.m. is preferred. Iron runs highest in the morning.
Results
1 to 3 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Anemia has several common causes. This panel brings together the usual first checks: ferritin for stored iron, serum iron and TIBC, a complete blood count, B12, and folate. Iron changes during the day and after meals, so come in before 10 a.m. after an overnight fast.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

For adults with signs of low iron or anemia, heavy periods, a plant-based diet, or a past low result who want the common causes checked together. Commonly related symptoms include:

Body

  • Tiredness
  • Weakness
  • Cold hands and feet

Skin

  • Pale skin

Head

  • Dizziness
  • Headaches

Hair

  • Hair shedding

Reproductive

  • Heavy periods

Lifestyle

  • Plant-based diet

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Together, these results show whether your red blood cell counts are low and whether low iron, B12, or folate may be involved, which helps a provider decide on next steps.

Iron

Ferritin
Ferritin is the protein that stores iron in your body, so the level in your blood reflects your iron reserves. A low level points to depleted stores. Ferritin also rises with inflammation, infection, and liver stress, so a higher level is read in context with iron and TIBC.
Why it’s measured: Reflects your stored iron, often checked with a blood count.
Iron
This measures the iron circulating in your blood, most of it carried by a protein called transferrin. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin. The level varies through the day and after meals or supplements, which is why a morning, fasting sample is preferred and why it is read with TIBC and ferritin.
Why it’s measured: Iron in your blood right now, usually checked in the morning after fasting.
Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
TIBC measures how much iron your blood could carry if all the binding sites on transferrin were filled. When iron stores run low, the body tends to make more transferrin, so TIBC often rises. It helps a provider tell iron deficiency from other causes of a low iron result.
Why it’s measured: Shows how much iron your blood could carry, which helps a provider interpret low iron.
Transferrin saturation (calculated)
Transferrin saturation is the percentage of iron-binding sites in your blood that are filled with iron. The lab calculates it from your iron and TIBC results. Together with ferritin, it helps a provider look at whether iron is low or whether too much iron may be building up.
Why it’s measured: The share of iron-carrying capacity in use, from iron and TIBC.

Blood count

White blood cell count (WBC)
White blood cells are part of your immune system and help your body fight infection. This count shows how many are in a sample of your blood. It can rise with infection, inflammation, stress, or some medicines, and fall with some infections, medicines, or bone marrow conditions.
Why it’s measured: A general look at the immune cells that help your body fight infection.
Red blood cell count (RBC)
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. This count shows how many are in a sample of your blood. It is read with hemoglobin and hematocrit, and it can be affected by iron, B12, and folate levels, blood loss, hydration, and where you live.
Why it’s measured: Counts the cells that carry oxygen, read together with hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is the iron-containing protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen. It is the main number used to check for anemia. Low iron, B12, or folate, blood loss, and some long-term conditions can lower it, while dehydration, smoking, and high altitude can raise it.
Why it’s measured: The main number used to check for anemia, read with the rest of the blood count.
Hematocrit
Hematocrit is the share of your blood volume made up of red blood cells. It usually moves in step with hemoglobin. Hydration affects it: being dehydrated can raise it, and extra fluid can lower it. It is read with hemoglobin and the red blood cell count.
Why it’s measured: Shows the share of your blood made up of red blood cells, read with hemoglobin.
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
MCV is the average size of your red blood cells. Smaller-than-usual cells are often seen with low iron, and larger-than-usual cells can relate to low B12 or folate, alcohol, thyroid or liver conditions, or some medicines. It helps a provider narrow down the type of anemia if one is present.
Why it’s measured: Average red cell size, which helps sort out types of anemia.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH)
MCH is the average amount of hemoglobin inside each red blood cell. It is calculated from your hemoglobin and red blood cell count and tends to follow MCV: smaller cells usually carry less hemoglobin. It is one of the red cell indices a provider reads together.
Why it’s measured: Average hemoglobin per red cell, read with the other indices.
Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC)
MCHC is the average concentration of hemoglobin inside your red blood cells, calculated from your hemoglobin and hematocrit. It shows how densely packed the cells are with hemoglobin. Like the other red cell indices, it adds detail when a provider reviews your blood count.
Why it’s measured: Shows how concentrated hemoglobin is inside your red cells, one of the red cell indices.
Red cell distribution width (RDW)
RDW shows how much your red blood cells vary in size. A higher value means a wider mix of small and large cells, which can happen when new cells are being made during a change in iron, B12, or folate levels. It is read with MCV and the rest of the blood count.
Why it’s measured: Shows how much your red cells vary in size, which can help sort out types of anemia.
Platelet count
Platelets are small cell fragments that help your blood clot and stop bleeding. This count shows how many are in your blood. It can rise with inflammation, low iron, or after an infection, and fall with some medicines, infections, or conditions that affect the bone marrow or spleen.
Why it’s measured: Counts the cell fragments that help your blood clot and stop bleeding.
Mean platelet volume (MPV)
MPV is the average size of your platelets. Newer platelets tend to be larger. On its own it says little, but a provider may read it alongside your platelet count to add context on how platelets are being made or used up.
Why it’s measured: Average platelet size, which a provider reads alongside your platelet count.
Neutrophils
Neutrophils are the most plentiful type of white blood cell and are often first to respond to bacterial infection and inflammation. The lab reports them as a percentage of your white cells and as an absolute count. Infection, stress, steroids, and exercise can raise them.
Why it’s measured: The white cells that often respond first to bacterial infection.
Lymphocytes
Lymphocytes are white blood cells that include B cells, which make antibodies, and T cells, which help direct the immune response. They often respond to viral infections. The lab reports them as a percentage and an absolute count, read with your other white cell results.
Why it’s measured: White cells that make antibodies and help direct the immune response.
Monocytes
Monocytes are white blood cells that move into tissues, where they help clear away germs and damaged cells. The lab reports them as a percentage and an absolute count. They can rise during recovery from infection and with some longer-term inflammatory conditions.
Why it’s measured: White cells that help clear germs and damaged cells from tissues.
Eosinophils
Eosinophils are white blood cells involved in allergic reactions and in fighting some parasites. The lab reports them as a percentage and an absolute count. They can rise with allergies, asthma, eczema, some medicines, and some infections, and a provider reads them in context.
Why it’s measured: White cells involved in allergic reactions and some infections.
Basophils
Basophils are the least common type of white blood cell. They release substances such as histamine during allergic and inflammatory reactions. The lab reports them as a percentage and an absolute count, and they are read as part of the full white cell differential.
Why it’s measured: The least common white cells, which take part in allergic and inflammatory reactions.

Vitamins & minerals

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 helps your body make red blood cells and keeps nerves working well. It comes from animal foods and fortified foods, and it needs a healthy stomach and gut to be absorbed. Levels can be lower with plant-based diets, some medicines, and conditions that affect absorption.
Why it’s measured: A vitamin your body needs to make red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.
Folate
Folate is a B vitamin your body needs to make red blood cells and new cells throughout the body. It comes from leafy greens, beans, and fortified grains. A low level can relate to diet, absorption, alcohol, or some medicines, and it is often read together with B12.
Why it’s measured: A B vitamin needed to make red blood cells, usually read together with B12.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. Before 10 a.m. is preferred. Iron runs highest in the morning. Nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 3 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Each marker is reported as a value with its unit and compared with the lab’s reference range, which for iron markers depends on age and sex.

  • Each marker next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

Only a healthcare provider can diagnose anemia or its cause and advise what to do next. Share your results with yours.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Serum iron runs higher in the morning and falls through the day, and fat in the blood after a meal can interfere with the test. That is why the lab asks for a morning, fasting sample.

Come in before 10 a.m. after an overnight fast. Water is fine.

Ferritin reflects the iron your body has stored. Serum iron is the iron moving in your blood at the time of the draw, and TIBC shows how much more iron your blood could carry. Percent saturation, calculated from the two, adds context.

Ferritin can rise with inflammation, liver disease, kidney disease, and other conditions, so reading it with iron and TIBC helps.

B12 and folate are both needed to make healthy red blood cells, and low levels of either can cause anemia with larger-⁠than-⁠usual red cells. Checking them with iron and a blood count helps a provider see which may be involved and what to check next.

Yes. Biotin supplements can affect some lab results, including the folate test in this panel, so tell your healthcare provider if you take biotin. Iron, B12, or folic acid supplements can also change these results.

Don’t stop or change any medicine or supplement without talking with your healthcare provider.

These tests can show low blood counts and low iron or vitamin levels, but not why, such as blood loss or trouble absorbing nutrients. Some types of anemia need other tests. A healthcare provider can decide what else to check based on your results and history.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.