Question 1

what does having a low iron saturation mean?

Accepted Answer

Anemia: it can mean that iron deficiency anemia is occurring. Further blood tests are necessary to establish a diagnosis.

Question 2

what does it mean when my iron saturation levels are low?

Accepted Answer

Maybe iron deficient: Low iron saturation could indicate an overall iron deficiency, but there are other blood tests that need to be done to determine this. Most common causes for iron deficiency are poor absorption from the diet and blood loss. If left untreated, low iron can lead to anemia.

Question 3

what does a low iron saturation level in the blood mean?

Accepted Answer

Room for iron!: Most of the body's iron is bound to that red stuff in our red blood cells, hemoglobin. The rest is bound to proteins, like the blood protein transferrin.  If there are still more possible binding sites for iron on transferrin, then the iron saturation is low.  This can mean that the body's storage iron is running low. It can be seen before full iron deficiency anemia develops.

Question 4

elevated iron saturation but low ferritin. what does that mean ?? tibc is low normal?

Accepted Answer

: It is a complex dynamic that you may not want to bother with because sometimes elevated ferritin may be because of inflammation or infection in the body. If your hemoglobin and hematocrit are normal and the shapes of the red blood cells are normal you should be contented.

Question 5

hemoglobin 140 but low iron saturation.  what does this mean? how should it be addressed? should iron supplementation continue?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Low iron saturation suggests, low body stores of iron. Hemoglobin drops when the stores are depleted. It would be prudent to take oral and multivitamins to replenish your store of iron. Iron deficiency is not uncommon in women due to menstrual blood loss.
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Practice safe sex. 
Get HPV vaccine.

Question 6

what does it mean if iron saturation is consistently low (11%) but ferritin is in normal range (34)? my 3yr old son has had these results since 9m

Accepted Answer

Iron deficiency: "Iron deficiency state without obvious anemia" Therefore, low iron intake persists, anemia will develop, i.e., low hemoglobin level.

Question 7

quest lab--iron % saturation: 17 low, ferritin: 13 ng/ml low, rdw 15.1 a little high. what does this mean and what do i do about it?

Accepted Answer

Cells: RDW is the calculation of the difference in cell size.  The MCV is a better indicator of the actual size of the red cells and if below 80 is considered microcytic.  With iron deficiency the cells are smaller than normal.  The high RDW can mean some cells are being pushed out of the marrow early and those immature forms are larger.  The rest of the blood work report is needed. See provider soon.

Question 8

low hemoglobin 9.7, hematocrit 30.7, mch24.9, platelets 419, uibc 390, iron , serum 17 iron saturation 4% what does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Iron deficiency : One with the above numbers has iron deficiency anemia. C doc, who'll ask questions in order to narrow down causes, then probably refer you for endoscopy, colonoscopy, +/-ct abd/pelvis, or +/- gyn, or +/- heme/onc depending on symptoms/ clinical findings, and most suspected cause for blood loss.  This does not require emergency room visit, unless one is having acute blood loss(ex.Lo bp, black stool).

Question 9

what do these results mean? rbc, hemoglobin, neutrophil %,  iron % saturation and ab neutrophil all low? high lymphocyte % and trace lymphocyte in ua.

Accepted Answer

Nothing on their own: Lab values mean nothing apart from a history and physical exam. That being said, what is most concerning is the likelihood that you are iron deficient. Even more concerning would be your feeling you have to ask us rather than your personal physician, who I hope will soon have a frank talk about your anemia and the need for a serious workup to find the cause. Your life's on the line. Be proactive.

Question 10

i have had iron deficiency anemia on my recent labs my ferritin was low but my serum iron and iron saturation high with high rdw-sd whats that mean?

Accepted Answer

Need more info: All laboratory results need to be interpreted in the clinical context and the doctor who ordered the tests is usually in the best position to do that. Talk to the doctor who ordered the tests. Having said that, it would have helped had you provided the actual results rather than high and low. What is your hemoglobin level?

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Doctor answers about:

What does it mean when iron saturation is low

A member asked:

What does having a low iron saturation mean?

A member asked:

What does it mean when my iron saturation levels are low?

A member asked:

What does a low iron saturation level in the blood mean?

A member asked:

Elevated iron saturation but low ferritin. what does that mean ?? tibc is low normal?

A member asked:

Hemoglobin 140 but low iron saturation. what does this mean? how should it be addressed? should iron supplementation continue?

A member asked:

What does it mean if iron saturation is consistently low (11%) but ferritin is in normal range (34)? my 3yr old son has had these results since 9m

A member asked:

Quest lab--iron % saturation: 17 low, ferritin: 13 ng/ml low, rdw 15.1 a little high. what does this mean and what do i do about it?

A member asked:

Low hemoglobin 9.7, hematocrit 30.7, mch24.9, platelets 419, uibc 390, iron , serum 17 iron saturation 4% what does this mean?

A member asked:

What do these results mean? rbc, hemoglobin, neutrophil %, iron % saturation and ab neutrophil all low? high lymphocyte % and trace lymphocyte in ua.

A member asked:

I have had iron deficiency anemia on my recent labs my ferritin was low but my serum iron and iron saturation high with high rdw-sd whats that mean?

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