BLOOD TESTS FOR LOW IRON (IRON DEFICIENCY)

The blood tests for low iron are usually done on a regular schedule for someone with IBD.  Testing may be done more often if a Crohnie or UCee is having active IBD symptoms of diarrhea, bleeding or poor growth.

Blood Tests for Iron Deficiency:

• Serum iron: directly measures the amount of iron in the bloodstream.
• Iron binding capacity: measures how much iron is bound to proteins in the blood. That also means that the amount of iron-binding protein (transferrin) influences the results.
• Hemoglobin and hematocrit: reflect the ability of iron to carry oxygen and depend on the red blood cell population. If someone has sickle cell anemia, for example, these tests are going to be more of a measure of that condition, rather than the body's iron.
• Reticulocyte count: measures how red blood cells are being pumped out into the bloodstream from the bone marrow and can tell whether a dose of iron is making a difference.
• Ferritin reflects the body's iron stores. Decreased ferritin levels can indicate a deficiency.  Increased ferritin levels can reflect high iron stores or the presence of inflammation (such as in IBD). The test must be interpreted carefully, because inflammation (in rheumatoid arthritis and IBD) can also cause an increased level.