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

Iron Check

Stored iron plus circulating iron and TIBC, 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 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Iron Check measures ferritin, which reflects your stored iron, plus serum iron, TIBC, and percent saturation, which show the iron moving in your blood. These are the usual first checks for low or high iron. It does not include a blood count. 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 questions about low or high iron, heavy periods, or a past low ferritin result who want stored and circulating iron checked together. Commonly related symptoms include:

Body

  • Tiredness
  • Weakness
  • Cold hands and feet

Skin

  • Pale skin

Head

  • Dizziness

Hair

  • Hair shedding

Reproductive

  • Heavy periods

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?

Side by side, these results show how much iron your body has stored and how much is moving in your blood, which helps a provider tell low iron from high iron.

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.

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 2 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

Iron markers are reported as values with units, and saturation as a percentage, compared with ranges that depend 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 low iron, iron overload, or their cause, and advise on next steps. 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 a provider interpret it.

High ferritin with high percent saturation can point toward iron overload, which a provider may look into with more testing. Ferritin can also be high for other reasons, such as inflammation or liver disease, so one high number does not mean overload. A provider reads the results together.

Iron Check shows your iron levels, not whether you have anemia, because it does not include a blood count. It also does not show why iron is low or high. If anemia is a question, the Iron & Anemia Panel adds a blood count, B12, and folate.

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.