TIBC TestingTotal iron-binding capacity (TIBC) measures the amount of total binding proteins and their capacity to bind to serum iron in the bloodstream. It is often used with other iron tests to assess the body’s iron status in an iron and TIBC panel. The body synthesizes transport proteins in relationship to a person’s need for iron. When iron storage is low, transport protein production increases. When iron storage is high, there is a reduction in the production of transport proteins. Transferrin is a transport protein responsible for 50% to 70% of all iron-binding. Generally, the TIBC is described as a measure of transferrin binding capacity because it is the primary transport protein. TIBC (µg/dL) = UIBC (µg/dL) + Iron (µg/dL) TIBC in PregnancyTransferrin production steadily increases throughout pregnancy, almost doubling by the peak in the third trimester. This causes an elevation in the TIBC. More transferrin in the bloodstream means more of a capacity for iron-binding. TIBC remains elevated through at least six weeks postpartum. There is limited data on when these values return to normal and may be more associated with birth outcomes and blood loss in childbirth. High TIBC in PregnancyTIBC is elevated when there is iron deficiency, as it represents a large portion of unbound transport proteins and lower serum iron levels. It can also represent an elevated production of transferrin and transport proteins. Most Common Causes of High TIBC in Pregnancy
Low TIBC in PregnancyA low TIBC occurs when there is more than adequate iron in the bloodstream but the transport proteins have a reduced availability to bind additional iron. This can be due to iron excess or a reduced production of transferrin. Most Common Causes of Low TIBC in Pregnancy
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Hi There!I'm Sarah Thompson, the author of Functional Maternity, and the upcoming book Beyond Results - A practitioner's Handbook to Effective Functional Lab Analysis in Pregnancy. Lab Tests
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