Iron Deficiency Test
introduction
Iron deficiency is one of the most common forms of deficiency symptoms. In general, it can be assumed that around 30% of the population suffers from iron deficiency at least once in a lifetime despite having sufficient iron sources. Especially young women and expectant mothers are particularly often affected by iron deficiency. The reason for this is the fact that iron is primarily used in the organism to form red blood cells (erythrocytes). During their monthly menstrual period, young women lose comparatively large amounts of these blood cells, which have to be replaced by the body. In addition, the iron requirement increases many times over during pregnancy and can hardly be compensated for by food intake. As a result, the women affected often develop a pronounced iron deficiency. The effects of this iron deficiency do not usually show up immediately, but rather creep in over time. Special tests can help to indicate iron deficiency quickly and to reduce the time it takes to start treatment.
Please also read our article on this Consequences of iron deficiency.
Iron Deficiency Test
A pronounced iron deficiency can have various effects on the normal processes of the organism. For this reason, an existing iron deficiency should be identified as such and treated as soon as possible. Various Testingthat either on-line carried out, in the pharmacy acquired or at the doctor's can be initiated should help to discover an iron deficiency quickly and specifically. Individuals who suspect they are iron deficient due to physical complaints can use special Online iron deficiency tests check whether the perceived symptoms match an iron deficiency. In this test, different Questions about lifestyle and an individual risk is calculated based on the data entered. The typical iron deficiency test asks, for example, whether the test person belongs to one of the risk groups.
Especially Children and adolescents, young women, expectant mothers, senior citizens, endurance and competitive athletes, blood donors, vegetarians and vegans belong to the classic risk groups.
In addition, such an iron deficiency test asks whether Medicationthat determine the iron content in the blood lower (for example, salicylates, deacidifying stomach agents or lipid lowering agents). Also that of the test person perceived complaints play a crucial role in the online iron deficiency test.
More pronounced Iron deficiency leads to affected people quickly to fatigue or Difficulty concentrating, Susceptibility to infection, a headache, Sensitivity to cold, Racing heart, dizziness, Shortness of breath, forgetfulness and paleness. If the test result is positive, you should urgently check whether there is actually an iron deficiency.
Which test from the pharmacy?
In addition to the usual online iron deficiency tests, special products from the pharmacy can also help to identify iron deficiency as such. However, given the abundance of offers, people who suspect they are suffering from iron deficiency often wonder which test from the pharmacy is easiest to use.
As a rule, it can be assumed that an iron deficiency test, which can be purchased in the pharmacy, can make an adequate statement as to whether there is an insufficient supply. If the test result is positive, a doctor should still be consulted and a conventional blood test carried out. Answering the question of which test from the pharmacy is the best, depends on the person concerned.
First of all, an iron deficiency test, in which the iron content of the Blood with help of a small prick in the fingertip, similar to the usual blood sugar tests that can be detected, are often used. Before using an iron deficiency test from a pharmacy, your fingertip must be tested with a disinfectant solution getting cleaned. Then the lancet belonging to the test can be used to prick the fingertip. The first drops of blood must be wiped with a clean cloth and allowed not for the iron deficiency test can be used from the pharmacy. The sample tube enclosed in the sample pack must then be placed on the finger and left there until the test tube is completely filled (note the marking).
After the blood has been taken, the sample can be sealed and sent to the responsible laboratory. Also with this iron deficiency test from the pharmacy it must be taken into account that the sample not too warm stored and sent to the laboratory immediately after removal. Otherwise, the values to be checked can change and make an adequate statement about the possible existence of an iron deficiency impossible.
How reliable is the test?
Since the iron deficiency test from the pharmacy is not carried out by the family doctor, many users wonder how reliable the test is. In general, one can assume that an iron deficiency test from the pharmacy will also be available can make a reliable statement about whether there is an iron deficiency. If the test result is positive, a doctor should still be consulted and another Blood test be performed. The reason for this is the fact that possible application errors determine the exact iron content in the blood can falsify. Although a statement can be made regarding a possible iron deficiency, the exact form of this iron deficiency can be falsified under certain circumstances.
In addition, in the case of an iron deficiency test from the pharmacy, it must be noted that the sample is only a so-called capillary blood acts. In an iron deficiency test, which is carried out by your family doctor, for example, a venous blood draw carried out. The iron content can vary, even if only slightly, between capillary and venous blood.
Which doctor can you test yourself with and how does he do the test?
Which doctor carries out the test for a possible iron deficiency depends primarily on which specialist the patient concerned visits. In principle, any specialist can carry out a suitable blood test and send it to a medical laboratory for an iron deficiency test. In general, however, it should be assumed that performing an iron deficiency test on outpatients is the responsibility of the family doctor.
If iron deficiency is suspected, the medical test involves several steps. In particular, a detailed doctor-patient discussion (anamnesis) can help to make the suspected diagnosis of “iron deficiency”. During this doctor-patient conversation, the symptoms that the patient notices themselves play a decisive role.
After the doctor-patient discussion, the suspected diagnosis should be confirmed and other causes for the development of these complaints should be ruled out. For this reason, the attending physician should conduct an exploratory physical examination. In particular, listening to the lungs and heart play a crucial role. As soon as other causes for the occurrence of the symptoms have been ruled out, a blood test is usually carried out.
With the classic iron deficiency test, venous blood is usually drawn for this. Until they are transported to the laboratory, the blood samples must be stored in such a way that the blood values relevant for the test are not influenced. The classic iron deficiency test in the laboratory includes the examination of three important parameters. In addition to the number of red blood cells (Erythrocytes) the hemoglobin concentration and the so-called hematocrit are also clearly reduced in a patient with iron deficiency. The decrease in red blood cells examined in the iron deficiency test can be explained by the fact that iron is mainly used in the body for the formation of erythrocytes. For this reason, a pronounced iron deficiency also leads to a drop in the hemoglobin concentration (red blood pigment of the erythrocytes). In addition, the so-called transferrin in the blood should be determined in the course of the iron deficiency test. It is a transport protein produced in the liver, which is responsible for the transport of iron in the blood plasma. In the case of a pronounced iron deficiency, this transport protein is typically increased without bound iron.
