Transferrin Saturation

What Does This Test Check?

Transferrin saturation is the percentage of the iron-transport protein actually carrying iron. It is one of the more sensitive early markers of iron overload.

Lola Health lists this as an add-on biomarker at £12, posted as a home sample with results in one to four working days. It cannot be bought on its own: you pick it while ordering one of Lola's main blood tests, so it suits someone who already knows which extra marker they want.

A high saturation may indicate iron overload such as haemochromatosis, while a low one points toward deficiency. The number swings with meals, so timing of the sample matters. Whatever the reading, an out-of-range result needs a doctor who can see the whole picture, so go through it with your GP before acting on it.