Total Iron-Binding Capacity
Abbreviation: TIBC
Panel: Iron Studies · All iron studies tests
Typical adult reference range
| Conventional units | 250–450 µg/dL |
| SI units | 45–81 µmol/L |
Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.
What a high or low result can mean
High total iron-binding capacity: high values can be seen in iron deficiency and pregnancy.
Low total iron-binding capacity: low values may occur in chronic inflammation, malnutrition, or liver disease.
These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.
Good to know
Usually calculated from transferrin or measured as iron plus UIBC.