Wed Dec 04 2024
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Have you ever wondered what an iron panel blood test means? An iron panel blood test is the same as an anaemia blood test where the doctor checks the iron levels in different parts of your body. As per the recommendations of healthcare professionals, male adults over 18 years should have 8 mg of iron a day; whereas female adults should intake 18 mg of iron a day. In case of pregnant women, the optimal iron intake should be 27 mg per day. If the doctor suggests there is an inadequacy of iron levels in your body, they might suggest you to undertake an iron panel or anaemia profile blood test.
In this blog, you will get to explore what exactly happens in an iron panel blood test, when you need this test, how to interpret the results and what to do with the abnormal iron levels. Read on further to find out the essential facts on iron panel blood test.
The main function of an iron panel blood test is to measure the levels of iron in your body. Fortified cereals, red meat, or iron supplements are some foods rich in iron. Iron is the mineral essential for production of RBCs (red blood cells) in your body.
Red blood cells are a crucial component of human body. Moreover, iron is the essential element of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is that protein occurring in the red blood cells which helps in the transportation of oxygen from one location to another in your body.
If you doctor suspects that you have excessive iron in your body, it is a condition of iron overload and you will require an iron panel blood test. Some common signs of iron overload are:
Overuse of iron supplements might often lead to iron overload. Immediate cessation of using the supplement is an easy way to fix this issue. You might also witness problems with your iron levels due to certain diseases which occur when your RBCs get damaged. This usually occurs if you have had haemolysis or a blood transfusion recently. Haemochromatosis can also be a rare cause of your iron overload. Regular drawing of blood can treat this genetic disorder.
If you are having low levels of iron, the doctor might suggest you an iron panel blood test. This condition is more common in menstruating women, especially women having excessive menstrual bleeding.
Other kinds of internal bleeding or a poor diet with insufficient iron intake can also be responsible for low iron levels in your blood. For example, pregnancy, bariatric surgery, intestinal worms, or celiac disease can all cause iron deficiency.
If low iron level is detected in your blood test, then there’s generally no need to worry! Intake of iron supplements can easily alleviate your symptoms and add this mineral to your diet adequately.
You might have to undergo several forms of iron tests as per the recommendations of your doctor. While some blood tests check for iron volumes in your blood, lungs or other tissues, some other blood tests look for how well haemoglobin transports iron in your body.
Different categories of iron tests include:
You might be confused about understanding and interpreting your iron panel blood test results once you get them. Seeing a doctor and allowing him/her to interpret your test results is perhaps the best idea to get the right information. However, you will be surprised to know that the normal range of iron levels in blood varies from person to person.
Moreover, not all laboratories define the normal iron levels in the same way. In fact, every kind of iron test has its own normal range. All these aspects are quite challenging and complication to understand for non-medical people.
It can be a daunting task for any average person to understand the abnormal results in an iron panel blood test. This is again due to the difference of abnormal levels of iron in varying individuals. Just remember that any iron level below the normal range is considered to be low.
You can identify iron deficiency by detecting serum iron levels less than 26 mcg/dL in females, and below 76 mcg/dL in males. Gender and other factors might be responsible for abnormal rise in blood iron levels. For example, women with serum iron levels above 170 mcg/dL, and men with serum iron levels more than 198 mcg/dL indicate iron overload.
The condition of iron overload or iron deficiency can be dangerous for humans. If you have abnormal iron levels, it is essential to consult your doctor immediately. Untreated iron overload can lead to organ damage, especially the heart, lungs, and liver. This ultimately affects the gastrointestinal tract, and ends up in vomiting, nausea, and diarrhoea.
What anaemia blood test looks for is low blood iron volumes, resulting in reduced RBCs and haemoglobin. It may lead to symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, or headache.
If you suspect excessively high or low iron levels in your blood, make sure to consult your doctor as fast as possible. Your doctor will suggest you get an iron panel blood test. Contact MD.co.uk to book your appointment for an anaemia profile blood test in London under the supervision of expert professionals.
