How is Iron Deficiency Anemia diagnosed?
If you're experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, it's important to talk to your doctor or healthcare professional so that he or she can properly diagnose the symptoms and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.
While there isn't a single, comprehensive test for iron deficiency anemia, your doctor can use a series of tests to diagnose IDA and make sure you don't have other types of anemia or health problems that could be confused with—or complicated by—IDA.1
Generally, your doctor will need to take a sample of your blood from your arm or hand and perform two common tests:2,3,4,5
- Hemoglobin Concentration can be used can determine whether you are anemic
- Ferritin Concentration can identify whether iron deficiency is the source of your anemia
These tests are generally enough to confirm a diagnosis; however, in certain cases, your doctor may also use other tests to identify the severity of your iron deficiency.1,2,6
Important Safety Information
WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. KEEP THIS PRODUCT OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.
Warning
Folic acid alone is improper therapy in the treatment of pernicious anemia and other megaloblastic anemias where vitamin B12 is deficient.
Precautions
Administration of Drug- General: Take 2 hours after meals. Do not exceed recommended dose. Discontinue use if symptoms of intolerance appear. The type of anemia and underlying cause or causes should be determined before starting therapy with Ferralet® 90 tablets. Ensure Hgb, Hct, reticulocyte count are determined before starting therapy and periodically thereafter during prolonged treatment. Periodically review therapy to determine if it needs to be continued without change or if a dose change is indicated. This product contains FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) which may cause allergic type reactions (including bronchial asthma) in certain susceptible persons. Although the overall incidence of FD&C Yellow No. 5 (tartrazine) sensitivity in the general population is low, it is frequently seen in patients who also have aspirin hypersensitivity.
- Folic Acid: Folic acid in doses above 0.1 mg daily may obscure pernicious anemia in that hematologic remission can occur while neurological manifestations remain progressive. Pernicious anemia should be excluded before using these products since folic acid may mask the symptoms of pernicious anemia.
- Pediatric Use: Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
- Geriatric Use: Dosing for elderly patients should be cautious. Due to the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy, dosing should start at the lower end of the dosing range.
This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.
Please see full Prescribing Information
- Recommendations to prevent and control iron deficiency in the United States [Internet]. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 1998 Apr 3 [accessed 2008 Apr 9]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00051880.htm.
- Killip S, Bennett JM, Chambers MD. Iron deficiency anemia. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Mar 1;75(5):671-8.
- Trost LB, Bergfeld WF, Calogeras E. The diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency and its potential relationship to hair loss. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 May;54(5):824-44.
- Medline Plus medical encyclopedia: ferritin [Internet]. U.S. National Laboratory of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health; [access 2008 Apr 28]. Available from: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003490.htm.
- Skikne BS, Flowers CH, Cook JD. Serum transferrin receptor: a quantitative measure of tissue iron deficiency. Blood. 1990 May 1;75(9):1870-6.
- Cook JD. Clinical evaluation of iron deficiency. Seminars in Hematology. 1982 Jan;19(1):6-18.
