Transferrin Test - Price, Need, Uses, Procedure, & Normal Range

Table of Content

Introduction to Transferrin Test

Have you ever heard someone say that they are anemic? Has it made you wonder what the condition is, how it occurs, and what is the way to diagnose it?

Well, Anemia is a health condition in which the hemoglobin quantity in your RBCs decreases. Mild Anemia can occur at any time, and it is reversible; however, if you are experiencing chronic anemia, it is important to take it seriously and consult with your health provider and get treated.

Multiple reasons can cause anemia, and the most common cause of anemia is iron deficiency, which affects almost 33% of the world’s population. This is why you must get your iron levels tested regularly, and if your results are abnormal, consult your doctor and get started with your treatment as soon as possible.

You can get the transferrin test done; this test is used to determine if there is any abnormality in the level of iron present in your body. Transferrin is a protein that helps in storing iron that the body intakes from the food. This is why doctors recommend that you get your transferrin blood test done because it helps show the iron levels present in the body. If the transferrin levels are elevated, your iron levels are higher, and vice versa.

If you are considering getting your Transferrin Blood Test done, you can book your test with Redcliffe Labs; more than 50,000 health professionals trust us to provide accurate test reports. You can book your test either from the website or download the app and get your blood sample collected from the comfort of your home.

Test Details:

What is Transferrin?

Transferrin is a type of glycoprotein present in the blood plasma, and its important role is to carry iron through blood vessels and tissues like the spleen. It metabolizes the movement of iron in the body.

This transferrin protein is synthesized in the liver and has a high affinity for iron ions. 

Doctors recommend getting the transferrin lab test done to confirm iron deficiency because they can track if there is any overload or reduction in the level of iron in anyone’s body.

Who Needs the Transferrin Test?

Iron is important for your body and is stored with the help of the protein transferrin. When one needs to know about the iron levels in the body, the transferrin blood test is recommended. Iron is not produced in the body, so it is important to know if your iron levels are maintained. The transferrin test is useful in this scenario because it helps understand the iron levels in your body, as they help store iron, which means the higher the transferrin levels, the more iron content in the body. You may think, how do you know who needs to get the transferrin test? Here are a few symptoms if you are having those that mean you need to get tested:

• Pain in joints and loss of weight
• Feeling cold all the time
• Having a swollen tongue
• Frequently getting sick
• Joint and muscle pain

These are signs one may look out for if they are suspicious of iron deficiency. Transferrin test helps in knowing the level of iron in your body and gives you clarity on whether you need to consult with a doctor and get under medication or the person need to change your lifestyle, and that would be enough to get back on track.

Preparations Before the Transferrin Test:

No special set of rules must be followed before taking the transferrin blood test. However, these are some basic guidelines to be followed:

• You are not required to fast before taking the HBsAg test, but if your health requires it, talk to your physician about any special dietary requirements.
• If you are pregnant, you might be taking any medication or supplements. It is important to inform your doctor about that as well. You do not have to panic in such situations; they will also tell you the solution if they think there is an issue. 
• It is a blood test, so avoiding any workouts or yoga before taking the test is always recommended.
• It is always advised that you skip smoking or drinking alcohol before taking the test because there are high chances that it may alter your test results, and you will not be able to get accurate test results.

Following the above steps, you will be fine while getting tested, and no exceptional preparation will be required before the blood test.

The Procedure for the Transferrin Test:

This Transferrin Test is like any other blood test; it does not take more than 5-10 minutes for the phlebotomist to take the blood sample. The procedure for getting the test is as follows:

• The phlebotomist, on arrival, tells you to make a fist and ties a band around your arm.
• They tell you to make a fist so the veins are properly visible.
• They disinfect the area from which the blood is to be drawn.
• Then, a thin, sterile needle is inserted into the vein to draw blood, and after the needle is removed, a bandage is put on the punctured area.
• After drawing the blood, they put it in a vial, seal it, and label it.
• This vial is then taken to the laboratory to be tested.

Keep in mind that this is not a painful process. It may sting when the syringe is injected and blood is drawn from the body, but that is about it. This sensation goes away in a day or two, so if you are experiencing the pain or the sting for a longer period, you must consult your doctor to find out what is wrong.

Understanding the Transferrin Test Results:

Just getting the blood test done is never enough; it is as important that when you receive your test reports, you can understand what the reports mean. The normal level of transferrin can depend on many things like health history, age, and gender. Here is a table for your better understanding of this range:

How to Manage Abnormal Transferrin Levels?

If you have high transferrin levels, your body is deficient in iron, and you are from anemia. There is no one generic treatment method to manage anemia; your treatment depends on your doctor and how severe your condition is. However, here are a few tips that can help you in maintaining your transferrin levels:

• Diet:

Iron deficiency Anemia is often caused if the person’s diet is iron deficient; that is why if you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency, you should start incorporating iron-rich food items. Here are some items that you can include in your regular meals to increase your iron consumption:

• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Nuts
• Dry Fruits 
• Red Meat (mutton, lamb, etc.)

Sometimes, there can be issues with absorption in your body that can cause iron deficiency, so you can include Vitamin C-rich food items in your diet because they help in iron absorption.

• Iron Supplements:

If your transferrin levels are very high and if your health provider feels that it is necessary that they need to add iron supplements to your treatment, you may have to take the supplements. However, you must always remember that you must only take supplements if a doctor prescribes them and not on your own.

• Blood Transfusion:

You must check if the iron deficiency is caused due to some internal injury that is causing excessive blood loss. You need to get an endoscopy done to know if blood loss is the reason for high transferrin levels; if so, then you may have to go for a blood transfusion to get back on track.

These are some of the ways by which you can deal with your iron deficiency. However, these things will only be useful if you get your transferrin test if there are symptoms of iron deficiency in your body; it helps the doctors understand the severity of your condition and provide you with treatment accordingly.

Transferrin Test Price

If you think that you have symptoms of Anemia and want to confirm it, you must get the transferrin blood test done, and if you are looking for a place to get tested, you can opt for Redcliffe Labs. We are the name of trust for more than 50000 doctors to provide accurate test reports in the stipulated time. The transferrin test price at Redcliffe Labs is around INR 1200, which varies depending on which lab you book your test from. However, we try to keep the price minimal to make diagnostics inclusive for everyone. 

You can even get your blood sample collected from the comfort of your home so what are you waiting for?

Book your tests now with Redcliffe Labs!

Transferrin Test Cost in Different Cities - Redcliffe Labs

Note: We also offer Transferrin Test PAN India. Please call the number 8988988787 to check the availability of our services in your area.