Iron Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Sam Rodgers MBBS, MRCGPChief Medical Officer
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Why is iron important?
Iron is essential for your health. It is vital to produce haemoglobin, the pigment that makes your blood red. The iron in haemoglobin combines with oxygen and transports it through the blood to your tissues and organs.
What does low iron feel like?
If your iron is low, your body doesn't get the oxygen it needs to function as it should. This is why you can feel exhausted, breathless, and dizzy when your iron is low. Low iron can be due to dietary factors; you don't eat enough iron for your body's needs, or your body can't absorb iron properly because you have a gut or bowel condition like coeliac disease or Crohn's. Low iron is commonly caused by blood loss from menstruation or internal bleeding, often in the digestive tract. Iron deficiency anaemia can also develop in pregnancy.
Iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional problem in the UK and worldwide. In developed countries, around 10-20% of women of childbearing age are anaemic.
What is a blood test for iron levels?
Our simple finger-prick blood test evaluates how much iron you have in your blood to diagnose low iron levels or monitor existing iron deficiency. Raised iron in the blood can indicate iron overload syndrome (haemochromatosis), an inherited condition where your body cannot rid itself of excess iron.
With our test, you can look at your ability to store and transport iron and the actual iron levels in your blood. It also contains an inflammation marker (CRP-hs) to provide more insights into a raised ferritin (a measure of iron storage) level.
What's included?
How to prepare for your test
Special instructions
Prepare for your Iron Blood Test by following these instructions. Take this test when any symptoms of short-term illness have settled. Do not take biotin supplements for two days before this test, discuss this with your doctor if it is prescribed.