Total iron binding capacity (TIBC) is a blood test to see if you have too much or too little iron in your blood. Iron moves through the blood attached to a protein called transferrin. This test helps your health care provider know how well that protein can carry iron in your blood.
Doctors typically order TIBC tests to check for medical conditions that cause abnormal iron levels.
Normal values for the TIBC test can vary among laboratories. However, most laboratories define a normal range as 240 to 450 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). A total iron binding capacity value above 450 mcg/dL usually means that there’s a low level of iron in your blood.
