Transferrin Blood Test - More Information

The transferrin test, also known as a transferrin lab test, and a transferrin blood test, measures the transferrin blood level.

Transferrin is a blood protein that is intimately related to iron levels in the body. In the blood, transferrin binds iron and serves as a tightly-bound storage pool that can release iron as needed to tissues and parts of the body that need it. Transferrin is made in the liver and the brain and primarily functions in parts of the intestine as well as the bone marrow. When not bound to iron, transferrin is known as apotransferrin. As the blood becomes more acidic, more apotransferrin is typically found in the blood.

When the amount of iron in the body is low, the liver makes more transferrin which is reflected in the transferrin test level. The transferrin blood test is often ordered with the iron, TIBC & ferritin panel as part of a workup for iron deficiency anemia. In these situations, transferrin levels are typically elevated which also causes the transferrin iron saturation to decrease. Pregnancy and the use of contraceptives may also increase transferrin blood levels.

To get a transferrin test near you, order online and get tested at the Quest Diagnostics lab that you chose. Once your transferrin lab results are ready, they can be downloaded. As can be seen on the sample transferrin lab report above, the transferrin blood levels will be reported as a numerical value and can be compared against the reference range provided by the lab.

The transferrin test is a component of the iron blood test panel for anyone who wants a more detailed analysis.