TS is usually reported along with serum iron (SI) and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC). TS indicates the percentage of iron-binding sites on transferrin that carry iron.
TS is derived from a calculation using the formula:
TS =(SI/TIBC) x 100
TS results are reported as percentages. Typical reference intervals for TS are 20% to 55% for males and 15% to 50% for females.
TS is currently considered a good test for screening people for HH due to its sensitivity and specificity for iron overload. It may be elevated before significant tissue iron deposition, and TS levels increase as additional iron is accumulated.
