What is Transferrin?
In terms of blood testing, the transferring and TIBC test measure the same thing – though the tests are different. Transferrin is a protein that transports iron through the blood stream. TIBC, on the other hand, measures iron ready for binding to transferrin.
Both transferrin and TIBC testing are used to gauge iron levels and diagnose health conditions pertaining to those levels – particularly iron toxicity and iron deficiency. The test results from either test are inverse, which means high iron will result in low transferrin/TIBC and low iron will result in high transferrin/TIBC. Both transferrin and TIBC levels rise during pregnancy.
Normal Value Range
- Negative Pregnancy Adult: 200 to 400 mg/dL or 2.5 to 5 µmol/L
- Pregnancy Trimester One: 254 to 344 mg/dL or 3.1 to 4.2 µmol/L
- Pregnancy Trimester Two: 220 to 441 mg/dL or 2.7 to 5.4 µmol/L
- Pregnancy Trimester Three: 288 to 530 mg/dL or 3.5 to 6.5 µmol/L