Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
Total iron-binding capacity reflects the blood's capacity to bind iron via transferrin. Population values tend to be higher in females during reproductive years and lower when iron-binding capacity falls.
Unit: µg/dL · 12 slices · age and sex · 1 source
Filed under panels: Iron Studies · topics: Hematology
These pages use total iron-binding capacity from the NHANES iron-status dataset. In NHANES, TIBC is calculated from measured serum iron and unsaturated iron-binding capacity. TIBC is usually interpreted with ferritin and transferrin saturation to distinguish low iron stores from altered transport capacity due to inflammation or other physiology.
Population Distribution
Browse by Demographic
| Age (years) | male (µg/dL) | female (µg/dL) |
|---|---|---|
| 20-29 | 255–392 (312) | 272–459 (346) |
| 30-39 | 247–390 (315) | 270–448 (335) |
| 40-49 | 256–389 (313) | 253–440 (340) |
| 50-59 | 248–393 (320) | 250–407 (326) |
| 60-69 | 241–409 (315) | 259–397 (318) |
| 70+ | 235–387 (304) | 248–415 (318) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does TIBC represent?
TIBC estimates the total amount of iron that transferrin could bind in serum. Higher values usually reflect more available binding capacity, while lower values can occur when transferrin is reduced or more heavily occupied.
Why can TIBC be higher in iron deficiency?
When iron stores are low, the liver often produces more transferrin to increase iron transport capacity. That raises TIBC and can widen the gap between serum iron and available binding sites.
How do I convert µg/dL to µmol/L?
Multiply by 0.179. For example, 320 µg/dL is approximately 57.3 µmol/L.