Which tests measure Iron, Serum?

Iron, Serum is measured in 5 tests on BiomarkersLabs.com, including Anaemia Panel, Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel, Iron, TIBC and Ferritin Panel.

Biomarker Reference · Fe

What does the Iron, Serum test measure?

Q: What is the reference range for Iron, Serum?

The standard reference range for Iron, Serum is 35–145 µg/dL (6.26–25.95 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories reference range for serum iron — values are sex-stratified in some laboratory platforms (males typically 60–170 µg/dL; females 40–150 µg/dL). Confirm whether Access Medical Laboratories applies sex-specific reference intervals. Note that serum iron exhibits pronounced diurnal variation — morning values are approximately 30% higher than afternoon values — and a single serum iron in isolation has limited diagnostic utility; interpret as part of the full iron panel including TIBC and ferritin.. Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform — interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Iron, Serum (Fe) is a clinical biomarker used in vitamins-minerals assessment. Serum iron measures transferrin-bound iron in the circulation — representing only a small fraction of total body iron (approximately 0.1% of the total 3,000–5,000 mg body iron pool in adults). It is measured in 5 laboratory tests on BiomarkersLabs.com.

Reference Range: 35–145 µg/dL (6.26–25.95 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories reference range for serum iron — values are sex-stratified in some laboratory platforms (males typically 60–170 µg/dL; females 40–150 µg/dL). Confirm whether Access Medical Laboratories applies sex-specific reference intervals. Note that serum iron exhibits pronounced diurnal variation — morning values are approximately 30% higher than afternoon values — and a single serum iron in isolation has limited diagnostic utility; interpret as part of the full iron panel including TIBC and ferritin.
Units: µg/dL, µmol/L
Measured In: 5 tests
Category: Vitamins & Minerals

Functional medicine optimal70–120 µg/dL (functional medicine mid-to-upper reference range optimal for adequate iron availability without excess). # REVIEWER FLAG: Functional optimal for serum iron in the context of a full iron panel is not standardised — reviewer to confirm framing.

What is Iron, Serum?

Serum iron measures transferrin-bound iron in the circulation — representing only a small fraction of total body iron (approximately 0.1% of the total 3,000–5,000 mg body iron pool in adults). Iron is absorbed in the duodenum and proximal jejunum by enterocytes via DMT1 and transported across the basolateral membrane by ferroportin, regulated by hepcidin — the master iron regulatory hormone produced by the liver. Circulating iron is bound almost exclusively to transferrin (a 79 kDa glycoprotein), each molecule carrying up to two iron atoms. Serum iron is subject to pronounced diurnal variation, acute phase response suppression, and recent dietary iron intake effects — making it the least reliable individual iron marker and most useful in the context of transferrin saturation calculation.

Why is Iron, Serum measured?

Within the anaemia panel, serum iron contributes to the calculation of transferrin saturation — the ratio of serum iron to TIBC — which is the most diagnostically informative single iron panel derived value. Low serum iron with low TIBC and elevated ferritin indicates anaemia of chronic disease; low serum iron with high TIBC and low ferritin confirms iron deficiency. Serum iron in isolation is insufficient to characterise iron status due to its instability — it is always interpreted as part of the full iron panel rather than as a standalone marker.

Reference ranges

Standard reference: 35–145 µg/dL (6.26–25.95 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories reference range for serum iron — values are sex-stratified in some laboratory platforms (males typically 60–170 µg/dL; females 40–150 µg/dL). Confirm whether Access Medical Laboratories applies sex-specific reference intervals. Note that serum iron exhibits pronounced diurnal variation — morning values are approximately 30% higher than afternoon values — and a single serum iron in isolation has limited diagnostic utility; interpret as part of the full iron panel including TIBC and ferritin.
Functional medicine optimal: 70–120 µg/dL (functional medicine mid-to-upper reference range optimal for adequate iron availability without excess). # REVIEWER FLAG: Functional optimal for serum iron in the context of a full iron panel is not standardised — reviewer to confirm framing.
Units: µg/dL, µmol/L

Reference ranges vary by laboratory and assay platform. Interpret in context of the issuing laboratory's stated range.

Tests that measure Iron, Serum

5 tests on BiomarkersLabs.com include this biomarker.

BML-CHP-003Comprehensive

Anaemia Panel

Iron, Serum reference range in this test: 35–145 µg/dL (6.26–25.95 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Access Medical Laboratories reference range for serum iron — values are sex-stratified in some laboratory platforms (males typically 60–170 µg/dL; females 40–150 µg/dL). Confirm whether Access Medical Laboratories applies sex-specific reference intervals. Note that serum iron exhibits pronounced diurnal variation — morning values are approximately 30% higher than afternoon values — and a single serum iron in isolation has limited diagnostic utility; interpret as part of the full iron panel including TIBC and ferritin.

BML-VIT-002Comprehensive

Iron and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Panel

Iron, Serum reference range in this test: 60–170 µg/dL (10.7–30.4 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Reference intervals are sex- and assay-dependent — reviewer to confirm against Access Medical Laboratories' assay-specific ranges.

BML-VIT-007Comprehensive

Iron, TIBC and Ferritin Panel

Iron, Serum reference range in this test: ~60–170 µg/dL (10–30 µmol/L) # REVIEWER FLAG: Confirm Quest range; affected by collection timing.

BML-VIT-005Comprehensive

Iron, Total (Serum Iron) Test

Iron, Serum reference range in this test: Adult ~60–170 µg/dL (10–30 µmol/L); sex-specific variation # REVIEWER FLAG: Ranges are assay-specific and influenced by collection timing — reviewer to confirm Access Medical Laboratories intervals before publication.

BML-VIT-006Comprehensive

Iron, Total and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)

Iron, Serum reference range in this test: Men: approximately 65–175 µg/dL (11.6–31.3 µmol/L); women: approximately 50–170 µg/dL (9.0–30.4 µmol/L)

Related clinical conditions

Related Biomarkers

Frequently measured alongside

Transferrin Saturation (% Saturation)Tsat4 tests Total Iron Binding CapacityTIBC2 tests Complete Blood Count with Differential and Erythrocyte IndicesCBC w/ Diff1 test Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) and Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity (UIBC)TIBC / UIBC1 test Ferritin, SerumFerritin1 test Reticulocyte Count and Reticulocyte Production IndexRetic / RPI1 test Vitamin B12B125 tests Serum FolateFolate3 tests

Order tests measuring Iron, Serum for your patients

Available exclusively to verified licensed healthcare practitioners. CLIA-certified laboratory results delivered to your secure portal.

Create Free Account