It's a blood test that measures the amount of iron that can be bound to transferrin, a protein that carries iron in the blood.
Here's a breakdown:
* Total: This means the test measures the overall capacity of the blood to bind iron.
* Iron: This is the mineral that is being measured.
* Binding: This refers to the attachment of iron to transferrin.
* Capacity: This refers to the maximum amount of iron that can be bound.
The TIBC test is used to help diagnose iron deficiency anemia and other conditions that affect iron levels in the body.