How to Calculate Iron Overload

Iron overload is most commonly caused by genetics, such as the disorder hemochromatosis. Too much iron in your body can cause weight loss, fatigue and joint pain. Normal levels of iron are 15mg/day for men and and 18mg/day for women. The earlier iron overload is diagnosed and treated, the less your chances are of developing something more critical to your health. There are two common blood tests that determine iron levels.

Things You'll Need

• Physician/nurse/phlebotomist
• Needle
• Alcohol
• Bandage
• Gauze
• Tubes
• Soft ball
• Transferrin saturation test
• Serum rerritin test

Show More

Instructions

Iron Overload Tests

• 1

  Make your appointment as early as possible in the morning to avoid hunger pains. You might have to wait if the clinic or hospital is busy.

• 2

  Fast for 12 hours prior to your appointment time. This means no gum, food or fluids except sipping on water until your blood has been drawn.

• 3

  Sit on the chair in the lab or doctor's office and pulse on a soft ball to make it easier for the healthcare worker to draw enough blood for the tests.

• 4

  Take the transferrin (transports iron throughout the body) saturation test. This will be done by drawing blood from your arm. This is measured in percentage form by dividing the total iron-binding capacity (allows iron to bind to transferrin) by the fasting serum iron (iron that is bound to transferrin).

• 5

  The healthcare worker will use the blood from the first test for the serum ferritin test. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron.

• 6

  Treat immediately if you are diagnosed with iron overload to avoid further complications.