What is Uibc in blood? How is Uibc deficiency, elevation, and normal values?

UIBC stands for Unsaturated Iron Binding Capacity, which is a blood test that measures the amount of iron that can be bound to transferrin, a protein that transports iron in the blood. UIBC is used to assess iron metabolism and diagnose various iron-related disorders.

UIBC deficiency refers to a lower than normal level of UIBC in the blood. This can be caused by conditions such as iron deficiency anemia, chronic inflammation, or liver disease. In iron deficiency anemia, for example, the body lacks sufficient iron to bind to transferrin, resulting in decreased UIBC levels.

On the other hand, UIBC elevation indicates a higher than normal level of UIBC in the blood. This can be seen in conditions such as iron overload disorders like hemochromatosis or certain types of anemia. In these cases, the body has excess iron that is not bound to transferrin, leading to increased UIBC levels.

Normal values for UIBC can vary slightly depending on the laboratory and the specific method used for testing. However, generally, the normal range for UIBC is between 250 and 450 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL). It’s important to note that the interpretation of UIBC results should be done in conjunction with other iron-related tests, such as serum iron levels and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), to get a comprehensive understanding of iron metabolism.

In summary, UIBC is a blood test that measures the amount of iron that can be bound to transferrin. UIBC deficiency can be seen in conditions like iron deficiency anemia, while UIBC elevation can indicate iron overload disorders. Normal values for UIBC typically range between 250 and 450 mcg/dL, but interpretation should be done in conjunction with other iron-related tests.