Resources
Minus/plus icon
ResourcesExplore the full ACKO experience and make the most of your plan
health plus
health-insurance-family

Transferrin-Saturation-Calculator

A Transferrin Saturation Calculator is an online tool that can help you know the Transferrin Saturation percentage. Learn More!

✅Plans starting @ Rs. 20/day* ✅Zero waiting period and out of pocket costs

Zero Waiting period
Zero
Waiting period
14,300+ Cashless hospitals
14,300+
Cashless hospitals
100% Bills covered
100%
Bills covered
health plus

Home / Health Insurance / Calculators / Articles / Transferrin Saturation Calculator

There are a lot of causes of low haemoglobin levels in the blood. One of the most common of these is Iron deficiency Anaemia, with a prevalence of up to 50% in some areas especially in women. Anaemia results in feeling weak and tired, high heart rate, dizziness, etc. Patients being evaluated for Anaemia are often asked to get iron saturation calculation done. This includes checking for Iron and ferritin levels, total Iron binding capacity TIBC), and transferrin vs ferritin saturation. Transferrin saturation is a simple measure to evaluate how effectively cells are able to perform their function of carrying oxygen.

What is a Transferrin Saturation Calculator?
Jump Tag Icon

A Transferrin Saturation Calculator is an online tool that can help you know the Transferrin Saturation percentage by inputting the Serum Iron concentration and Total Iron-binding capacity. 

What is Transferrin Saturation?
Jump Tag Icon

Transferrin is a protein produced by the liver that is responsible for transporting Iron. One transferrin particle can bind with two ions of Iron in its Ferric form. Transferrin binds to Iron particles in the intestine, where Iron is isolated from the food we consume. Once transferrin reaches places like the bone marrow where red blood cell production occurs, it encounters cells that have transferrin receptors. At this site, it releases the two Iron ions which are used to produce haemoglobin.

What is Total Iron Binding Capacity?
Jump Tag Icon

Total Iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a medical term used to measure the amount of Iron that can be bound by transferrin, a protein responsible for transporting Iron in the blood. TIBC helps assess the body's ability to carry Iron, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions related to Iron deficiency or overload.

A high transferrin may suggest Iron deficiency, Anaemia, where the body tries to increase its Iron-carrying capacity. It can also be seen in conditions like pregnancy or chronic inflammatory diseases. Conversely, a low TIBC may indicate Iron overload disorders like hemochromatosis or liver disease. Accurate interpretation requires considering TIBC in conjunction with other Iron-related parameters.

How to calculate Transferrin Saturation
Jump Tag Icon

Transferrin saturation can be calculated using the ‘fe’ calculator where:

Transferrin saturation is a value that is obtained by the following formulae:

  1. Transferrin Saturation = {Serum Iron concentration ÷ Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)} x 100 

  2. Transferrin Saturation = { Serum Iron concentration ÷ Serum Transferrin concentration} x 70.9

Who needs a transferrin saturation test?
Jump Tag Icon

The blood is formed by many cells, one of which are red blood cells (RBCs) or erythrocytes. The main function of RBCs is to carry oxygen and nutrients to various parts of the body using a special protein called haemoglobin. 

For haemoglobin to be produced, Iron is essential. A fall in Iron levels can cause decreased haemoglobin production and, consequently a decrease in the RBCs. This clinical condition where there is a decrease in haemoglobin or in the number of RBCs is called Anaemia. 

As per iron profile interpretation, there are many different types of Anaemia. One of the most common types of Anaemia is Iron Deficiency Anaemia, which as the name suggests, is due to low levels of Iron in the body. Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anaemia include the following. 

Anaemia is diagnosed by blood tests. The first line of testing involves looking at blood cell counts and cell indices. If you are found to have a low level of haemoglobin, then further tests like a Transferrin blood test may be indicated by your doctor. TSAT test is one of them.

Reference Range of Transferrin Saturation
Jump Tag Icon

The TSAT normal range is between 20-50%. This varies with gender & age. Typically the upper limit for men is usually 45-50%, and for women is 30-40%. 

When Transferrin Saturation is below 15% in females and 20% in males, it is diagnostic of Transferrin Saturation low or Iron Deficiency Anaemia. When Transferrin Saturation is above 50%, it is considered as a condition of excess Iron in the body. 

This is summarised in the table below.

Gender

Reference range (in percentage %)

Male

20-50

Female

15-40

Interpretation of Transferrin Saturation Values
Jump Tag Icon

Transferrin Saturation is a value that shows how many Iron binding sites on the transferrin molecules are actually bound with Iron particles. Therefore, when there is Iron deficiency, the Transferrin saturation is reduced as there is not enough Iron in the body to bind with the transferrin proteins. Hence, a low Transferrin Saturation is diagnostic of Iron Deficiency Anaemia. 

Conversely, a Transferrin Saturation high rate can indicate a state of Iron overload. This can occur in cases of

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Jump Tag Icon

Here’s a list of FAQs related to the Transferrin Saturation Calculator. Please consult a doctor for specific questions.

Icon

I am a 24-year-old woman and my blood work shows my Transferrin Saturation is 13.2%. What does this mean? 

Transferrin Saturation is a value that is used to determine the status of Iron concentration in your body. The reference range for women is between 15-40%. Your Transferrin Saturation at 13.2% is below the lower limit and is hence indicative of Iron deficiency. Consult your doctor to determine what could be the cause of your Iron deficiency and how to rectify it. 

What is the treatment for Iron deficiency Anaemia?

Iron deficiency Anaemia is treated in different ways depending on the severity and patient factors. Iron can be given orally in the form of tablets or as intramuscular injections. Further treatment depends upon the cause of Anaemia.

What is TIBC?

Total Iron binding capacity is also known as TIBC. It is a medical term used to measure the amount of Iron that can be bound by transferrin, a protein responsible for transporting Iron in the blood. It generally helps assess the body's ability to carry Iron, aiding in the diagnosis of conditions related to Iron deficiency or overload.

What can affect transferrin saturation?

Transferrin saturation is something that corresponds to the ratio of serum iron and the total capacity of the iron-binding. Identical to iron, it is generally influenced by liver disease and other kinds of inflammation. Therefore, it has limitations in the diagnostic workup.

What is the required range of transferrin saturation?

The normal TSAT generally varies between 16% to 45%. A high TSAT is basically the hallmark of HC and it usually precedes the surge of SF as it shows the derangement of hepcidin production of HC.

What causes deficiency in transferrin?

In anaemia or a chronic disease, there is a low transferrin level. A kidney injury also leads to a loss of transferrin in urine. 

How vital is transferrin saturation?

Generally, a higher level indicates that you have lower iron-deficiency anaemia. There is another measurement which evaluates how many places on your transferrin that can hold iron are actually doing it.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. Please consult a doctor before making any health-related decisions.