Test Details & Preparation

Transferrin test is performed to measure the amount of the protein transferrin present in your blood. Transferrin is produced by your liver itself. When your body's stores of iron run low, your liver produces more transferrin in order to get more iron into your blood.

Iron plays many of the important roles in your body, includes helping your red blood cells carry oxygen to the cells in your body. Nearly all the iron in your body is normally attached to transferrin.

Generally, your body carefully monitors your iron level and tries to keep it from rising too high or falling too low.

This test can give your healthcare provider more information about health issues like anemia that are affecting your body's iron supply.