A lab test called Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) gauges how well all of the blood’s proteins are able to bind iron. An important mineral for many physiological functions, such as energy metabolism, oxygen transport, and DNA synthesis, is iron. The majority of the iron in the body is incorporated into proteins like transferrin, which is in charge of carrying iron through the bloodstream.

The ability of the body to move iron from storage locations (such the liver and spleen) to cells throughout the body for diverse purposes is greatly enhanced by TIBC. It is frequently used to assess iron metabolism and identify diseases like iron overload disorders or iron deficiency anemia in conjunction with other tests, such as transferrin saturation and serum iron levels.