Also known as: Iron and TIBC, Iron Panel
The short answer
Iron & TIBC measures Iron, TIBC and Iron Saturation % from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $25.99 plus a $6 lab fee, requires an 8–12 hour fast, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$100
cash pay
Other Labs
$50
+ lab fees
TestWell
$25.99
+ $6 lab fee
This panel measures serum iron (the amount of iron circulating in your blood) and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), which reflects how well your blood can transport iron. Together, they can calculate iron saturation percentage. Low iron with high TIBC suggests iron deficiency, while high iron with low TIBC may indicate iron overload (hemochromatosis).
Measures serum iron + Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), which together yield transferrin saturation. Combined with ferritin, gives a complete picture of iron metabolism.
Anyone investigating iron deficiency anemia, monitoring iron supplementation, evaluating iron overload, or screening for hemochromatosis (especially men over 40 with family history).
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
3 biomarkers tested · 2 measured, 1 calculated from them
Your Iron & TIBC results will include values for each of the 3 biomarkers tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
Fasting for 8–12 hours recommended. Best drawn in the morning. Stop iron supplements 24 hours before.
The short answer
Worth it when you are working up iron deficiency or overload and want more than ferritin alone. It shows how much iron is actually circulating and how saturated your transferrin is, which catches problems a ferritin number can miss - and it pairs best with ferritin, not instead of it.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
A venous draw at Quest or Labcorp, or an at-home mobile draw where available. Timing matters more here than for most tests: fast 8-12 hours, hold iron supplements for 24 hours beforehand (they can spike serum iron and mask a real deficiency), and try to be drawn in the morning, when iron is naturally highest.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Serum iron | ~50-170 mcg/dL | The iron circulating right now; it swings through the day, so it is interpreted alongside TIBC rather than alone. |
| TIBC | ~250-450 mcg/dL | How much capacity your blood has to carry iron; it rises when iron is low (the blood is 'hungrier') and falls with iron overload. |
| Transferrin saturation | 20-50% | Calculated from iron and TIBC - the best single iron-status number. Under 20% suggests deficiency; over ~45% suggests overload and warrants follow-up. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated June 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A Iron & TIBC test costs $25.99 at TestWell — $31.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $100.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $25.99 | $31.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
Lab test codes: Quest test code 5616 · Labcorp test no. 001321 · BioReference code 0250-1. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Compare more: Quest Diagnostics price list · Labcorp price list · Quest vs Labcorp · Lab test price checker
Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD · Last reviewed September 2026
TestWell Price
$25.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Baseline Anemia Panel
Save $56.96This test is part of the Baseline Anemia Panel — 5 tests · 20 biomarkers for $74.99, $56.96 less than à la carte.
$74.99$131.95
5 tests · 20 biomarkers
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Iron & TIBC
$25.99