blood other

Albumin   It is a protein made by the liver that keeps fluid from leaking out of blood vessels, nourishes tissues, and transports hormones, vitamins, drugs, and substances like calcium throughout the body. An albumin test may be ordered as part of a liver panel to evaluate liver function or with a creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), or renal panelto evaluate kidney function. Albumin may also be ordered to evaluate a person’s nutritional status.

Circulating immune complex (CIC)   This evaluates the immune system, whose function is to defend the body against such invaders as bacteria and viruses. The immune system also plays a role in the control of cancer, and is responsible for the phenomena of allergy, hypersensitivity, and rejection problems when organs or tissue are transplanted. One of the ways the immune system protects the body is by producing proteins called antibodies. Antibodies are formed in response to another type of protein called an antigen (anything foreign or different from a natural body protein). Immune complex reactions occur when large numbers of antigen-antibody complexes accumulate in the body. Circulating immune complexes (CICs) are detectable in a variety of systemic disorders such as rheumatological, autoimmune, allergic diseases; viral, bacterial infections and malignancies.

Ferritin   This is a protein that binds iron and transports it through the bloodstream. Very high levels can indicate problems with your body’s ability to store iron. Increased ferritin levels can also occur when insulin resistance and/or inflammation are present in the body, indicating increased risk for heart disease and diabetes.

Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBD)  This is a medical laboratory test that measures the blood’s capacity to bind iron with transferrin. TIBC is usually higher than normal when the body’s iron supplies are low. 

This can occur with:  

Iron deficiency anemia  

Pregnancy (late)  

Lower-than-normal 

TIBC may mean:  

Anemia due to red blood cells being destroyed too quickly (hemolytic anemia)  

Lower-than-normal level of protein in the blood (hypoproteinemia)  

Inflammation  

Liver disease, such as cirrhosis  

Malnutrition  

Decrease in red blood cells from the intestines not properly absorbing vitamin B12 (pernicious anemia)  

Sickle cellmanemia

Total Protein   This is a rough measure of all of the proteins in the plasma portion of your blood. Proteins are important building blocks of all cells and tissues; they are important for body growth and health. Total protein measures the combined amount of two classes of proteins, albumin and globulin.