TIBC (TBC)
Department: Chemistry
Test Synonym(s): LAB829, Total Iron Binding Capacity, TBC
CPT Codes: 83540, 83550
Methodology: FerroZine
Reference Range: 0 to < 2mo: 59 – 175 µg/dL; 2mo to < 18yrs: 250 – 400 µg/dL; 18yrs and older: 240 – 450 µg/dL
Tube Type: Light green top PST (Lithium Heparin with gel)
Specimen: Plasma
Pediatric Requirements: 1 light green top microtainer
Volume: 1 mL plasma
Minimum Volume: 1 light green top
Temperature: Separate within one hour and store at 2-8C until delivery
Stability: 20-25 C: 7 days; 2-8 C: 21 days; -20 C: 1 year
Reasons for Rejection: Hemolysis; improper collection
Days Performed: Daily
Times Performed: Continuous
Significance: In patients treated with iron supplements or metalbinding drugs, the drugbound iron may not properly react in the test, resulting in falsely low values. The physiological function of deferoxamine containing drugs is to bind iron to facilitate its elimination from the body. Therefore, any deferoxamine concentration interferes with the UIBC assay. In the presence of high ferritin concentrations > 1200 μg/L the assumption that serum iron is almost completely bound to transferrin is not valid anymore. Therefore, such iron results should not be used to calculate Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) or percent transferrin saturation (% SAT). In very rare cases, gammopathy, in particular type IgM (Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia), may cause unreliable results.
Note: Lithium heparin plasma values are approximately 6 % lower than serum values
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