This profile includes:
CBC with Differential
Iron
Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin. The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia. The Anemia Profile measures the level of anemic-related blood chemistries. A significant deviation from the normal range may require further evaluation by your physician.
The CBC test may be performed under many different conditions and to assess many different symptoms or diseases. The results can reflect problems with fluid volume (such as dehydration) or loss of blood.
The test can reveal problems with RBC production and destruction, or help diagnose infection, allergies, and problems with blood clotting.
MCV, MCH, and MCHC values reflect the size and hemoglobin concentration of individual cells, and are useful in diagnosing different types of anemia.
A complete blood count (CBC) test measures the following:
The number of red blood cells (RBCs)
The number of white blood cells (WBCs)
The total amount of hemoglobin in the blood
The fraction of the blood composed of red blood cells (hematocrit)
The CBC test also provides information about the following measurements:
Average red blood cell size (MCV)
Hemoglobin amount per red blood cell (MCH)
The amount of hemoglobin relative to the size of the cell (hemoglobin concentration) per red blood cell (MCHC)
The platelet count is also usually included in the CBC.
The Iron ans TIBC tests are used in the differential diagnosis of anemia, especially with hypochromia and/or low MCV. The percent saturation sometimes is more helpful than is the iron result for iron deficiency anemia. Evaluate thalassemia and possible sideroblastic anemia; work-up hemochromatosis, in which iron is increased and iron saturation is high. Decrease in iron level after performance of Schilling supports the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, vide infra. Evaluate iron poisoning (toxicity) and overload in renal dialysis patients, or patients with transfusion dependent anemias. Use of TIBC in iron toxicity may be less useful than previous believed.1 TIBC or transferrin is a useful index of nutritional status.
Limitations: Ferritin levels are also useful for iron deficiency. Low iron level may not indicate iron deficiency in acute infection with leukocytosis. Low iron levels may be misleading in chronic infection, inflammation and malignancy; high ferritin levels occur in many such states, however, the most sensitive test for iron deficiency is bone marrow examination. TIBC and transferrin are increased in patients on oral contraceptives, with normal