Anemia Profile – Basic

The Essential Screen for Weakness, Dizziness, and Iron Health.

Are you looking pale or feeling weak? Do you experience dizziness when standing up quickly? Do your nails look brittle, or do you find yourself out of breath after a short walk?

Anemia (low hemoglobin) is the world’s most common nutritional deficiency, yet a simple blood count often misses the full picture. You can have “normal” hemoglobin but severely low iron stores, leaving you feeling drained.

The Anemia Profile – Basic is our focused diagnostic package designed to screen for the #1 cause of fatigue: Iron Deficiency. It combines a detailed blood count with a complete analysis of your body’s iron usage and storage.

What This Profile Covers & Why It Matters

This profile concentrates on the core blood health markers in 2 Essential Sections:

1. The Complete Blood Picture (CBC + PBF)

• Tests: Hemoglobin, RBC Count, PCV, MCV (Cell Size), MCH (Cell Color), Platelets, Reticulocyte Count, Peripheral Blood Smear.

• The Advantage:

  • Beyond Hemoglobin: We don’t just measure how much blood you have; we measure the quality of it.

  • Cell Size (MCV): This critical marker tells us if your red blood cells are too small (Microcytic), which is a classic sign of Iron Deficiency before it becomes severe.

  • Peripheral Smear: Our pathologists look at your blood under a microscope to detect abnormalities in cell shape (like “pencil cells”) that machines might miss.

2. The Complete Iron Study (Storage & Transport)

• Tests: Serum Iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), % Transferrin Saturation, Serum Ferritin.

• The Advantage:

  • The “Fuel Tank” Check: A standard CBC only checks the gas in the engine. This panel checks the gas in the tank.

  • Serum Ferritin: This is the most important test in this profile. It measures your stored iron. It is possible to have normal Hemoglobin but low Ferritin (Latent Iron Deficiency), which causes hair fall and fatigue.

  • TIBC: Tells us how “hungry” your cells are for iron. High TIBC confirms your body is starving for iron.

Who Should Book This Test?

• Women of Reproductive Age: Heavy menstrual cycles are the leading cause of iron loss.

• Pregnant Women: To monitor iron demands for the baby.

• Teenagers: Rapid growth spurts often deplete iron reserves.

• Individuals with Hair Fall: Low iron is a primary trigger for hair thinning.

• Anyone with Pica: If you have cravings to eat ice, clay, or raw rice.

Patient Preparation

• Sample: Blood (Serum & EDTA).

• Fasting: 10-12 Hours fasting is required. (Water is allowed).

• Timing: Sample must be given before 10:00 AM because Serum Iron levels drop later in the day, potentially hiding a deficiency.

• Note: Please stop any Iron supplements 24 hours before the test to ensure we measure your body’s natural levels, not the pill you just took.

Why Choose the Anemia Profile – Basic?

If you don’t suspect a vitamin issue or liver problem but want a focused, professional check on your Iron status, this is the perfect starting point. It offers clinical depth beyond a standard CBC at an affordable entry point.