Iron Studies — Reference Ranges

Iron studies show how much iron the body has stored and how much is circulating for making red blood cells. Ferritin reflects the stores; serum iron, transferrin and TIBC show transport. The parts are read together, because each one alone can mislead.

This page lists all 9 tests in this group with their typical adult ranges in both unit systems. Open any test for plain-language notes on high and low results and how to prepare.

Print this reference sheet

Test	Abbr.	Typical range (conventional)	Typical range (SI)
Erythropoietin	EPO	2.6–18.5 mIU/mL	2.6–18.5 mIU/mL
Ferritin	—	Male 30–400; Female 15–150 ng/mL	Male 30–400; Female 15–150 ng/mL
Haptoglobin	—	30–200 mg/dL	0.3–2.0 g/L
Iron, Serum	—	Male 65–175; Female 50–170 µg/dL	Male 11.6–31.3; Female 9.0–30.4 µmol/L
Soluble Transferrin Receptor	sTfR	1.9–4.4 mg/L	1.9–4.4 mg/L
Total Iron-Binding Capacity	TIBC	250–450 µg/dL	45–81 µmol/L
Transferrin	—	200–360 mg/dL	2.0–3.6 g/L
Transferrin Saturation	TSAT	20–50 %	20–50 %
Unsaturated Iron-Binding Capacity	UIBC	111–343 µg/dL	20–61 µmol/L

Full, always-updated version of this sheet: https://www.medicalvideos.com/lab-values/panel/iron/
Printed from MedicalVideos.com Lab Values. Educational reference only — not medical advice.

Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.

Iron Studies — Reference Ranges

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