Professional Documents
Culture Documents
University of California, San Francisco About UCSF UCSF Children's Hospital Search
Medical Tests
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X All Medical Tests
Patient Education Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The
Patient Profiles puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic. An elastic band is placed around the upper arm to restrict
blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the band to fill with blood.
Publications
A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or an attached tube
Research
(syringe). The band is removed to restart blood flow. Once the blood has been collected, the needle
Other Resources is removed. The puncture site is covered to stop any bleeding.
Specialized Services For an infant or young child:
Support Groups
The area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a small pointed blade
(lancet). The blood may be collected in a small glass tube (pipette), on a slide, onto a test strip, or
into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be placed on the puncture site if bleeding continues.
You should not eat or drink for 8 hours before the test.
When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick
or stinging sensation. Afterward, there may be some throbbing.
This test is usually done when the health care provider suspects low iron (deficiency) as a cause of
anemia.
About 65% of the iron in the body is carried in a part of red blood cells called hemoglobin. About 4%
of iron is carried in a part of muscle tissue called myoglobin. About 30% of the iron in the body is
stored as a substance called ferritin in the liver, bone marrow, and spleen. A small amount of the
body's iron moves through the body in the blood stream as part of a protein called transferrin.
A serum iron test measures the amount of iron in transferrin. Each transferrin molecule can carry 2
iron atoms. Normally, about 30% of the free "spaces" for iron in transferrin are filled. By filling up all
the available spaces, doctors can measure the total iron binding capacity, or TIBC, of your blood.
TIBC is usually higher-than-normal when the body's iron stores are low.
Normal Values
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/adam/data/003489.html Page 1 of 2
Medical Tests | TIBC 1/22/10 12:43 AM
Cirrhosis
Hemolytic anemia
Hypoproteinemia
Pernicious anemia
Sickle cell anemia
Inflammation
Malnutrition
Liver disease
Excess bleeding
Fainting or feeling light-headed
Blood under the skin (hematoma)
Infection
Many needle pricks to find veins
Special considerations
Drugs that can raise TIBC include fluorides and oral birth control medications.
Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the
other. Getting a blood sample from some people may be harder than from others.
References
McPherson RA, Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods.
21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders, 2006.
Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders, 2001.
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of
any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical
conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not
constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright ©2003 A.D.A.M., Inc., as modified by University of California
San Francisco. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Information developed by A.D.A.M., Inc. regarding tests and test results may not directly correspond with information
provided by UCSF Medical Center. Please discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
Copyright © 2002 - 2010 The Regents of the University of California | Terms of Use | Site Map
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/adult/adam/data/003489.html Page 2 of 2