WHY GET TESTED?
To determine your blood iron level
WHEN TO GET TESTED?
When your doctor suspects that you may have too little or too much iron in your body. Iron deficiency refers to a decrease in the amount of iron stored in the body, while iron deficiency anemia refers to a drop in the number of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or the amount of hemoglobin within the RBCs, the end-stage of iron deficiency. It typically takes several weeks after iron stores are depleted for the hemoglobin level to decrease, resulting in reduced production of RBCs. There are few symptoms seen in the early stages of iron deficiency, but as the condition worsens and blood levels of hemoglobin and RBCs decrease, ongoing weakness, pallor, and fatigue can develop.