Transferrin saturation

Understanding the marker

Transferrin saturation describes how much of the blood's iron-carrying capacity is occupied by iron.

The result is calculated from circulating iron and transferrin or total iron-binding capacity. It is reported as a fraction or percentage according to the laboratory method. Read it with ferritin and the report's own unit and interval.

What does high Transferrin saturation mean?

Persistent elevation may warrant assessment for iron overload. It does not by itself diagnose haemochromatosis.

What does low Transferrin saturation mean?

Low saturation means a smaller share of the transport capacity is carrying iron. It may reflect low stores or reduced iron availability during inflammation. Ferritin and other findings help distinguish these patterns.