What is Total Iron Binding Capacity?
Total iron binding capacity measures the serum's total capacity to bind iron and functions as an indirect measure of transferrin, the principal iron transport protein synthesised by the liver. Transferrin production is upregulated in iron deficiency as a compensatory response, raising TIBC, and is reduced in inflammation, malnutrition, hepatic disease, and protein-losing states, since transferrin is a negative acute-phase reactant. TIBC is more stable across the day than serum iron and is not materially affected by recent iron intake.