What components are found in the iron panel?

The iron panel is a set of blood tests that measure various components related to iron metabolism in the body. The correct answer includes iron, ferritin, and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC).

Iron is the primary component measured in the iron panel, as it is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and overall oxygen transport in the blood. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron and reflects the amount of stored iron in the body, providing insight into whether the body has sufficient iron stores. TIBC measures the blood's capacity to bind iron with transferrin, which is the primary transport protein for iron. Elevated TIBC often indicates that the body is trying to compensate for low iron levels.

The other options include components that are not part of the standard iron panel or do not directly measure iron status. Understanding these core components helps in assessing and diagnosing conditions related to iron deficiency or overload.