High TBIC on bloodwork

[slayer37]

See photo.
I've noticed this trend twice in the last 5 months. High Total iron binding capacity with normal iron levels.
High TBIC would usually indicate low iron, but mine is normal so I'm confused. I eat 1lb of lean ground beef/day and plenty of greens.
My physician says he isn't concerned and to eat more red meat. I'm concerned there may be an underlying issue but I can't find anything after doing some research.
HCT and hemoglobin are perfectly normal.
Any insight on what may cause this?

 

[SouthernMuscle]

Normal serum iron and elevated total iron-binding capacity in iron-deficiency states - PubMed

Five nonanemic patients with normal erythrocytic indexes were found to have normal serum iron, elevated total iron-binding capacity, normal percentage of saturation of transferrin, and depleted bone marrow iron stores. These findings suggest that during the development of iron deficiency, an...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[Knight9]

The only time this happened to me was when I was using accutane at 20-40mg/day.

 

[mitochondria]

never even been tested for it, no idea

 

[Pissbrainiac259]

See photo.
I've noticed this trend twice in the last 5 months. High Total iron binding capacity with normal iron levels.
High TBIC would usually indicate low iron, but mine is normal so I'm confused. I eat 1lb of lean ground beef/day and plenty of greens.
My physician says he isn't concerned and to eat more red meat. I'm concerned there may be an underlying issue but I can't find anything after doing some research.
HCT and hemoglobin are perfectly normal.
Any insight on what may cause this?

A full "iron study" normally involves 4 things:
1) Serum ferritin
2) Serum iron
3) Serum TIBC (total iron binding capacity)
4) % iron saturation

 

[Pissbrainiac259]

See photo.
I've noticed this trend twice in the last 5 months. High Total iron binding capacity with normal iron levels.
High TBIC would usually indicate low iron, but mine is normal so I'm confused. I eat 1lb of lean ground beef/day and plenty of greens.
My physician says he isn't concerned and to eat more red meat. I'm concerned there may be an underlying issue but I can't find anything after doing some research.
HCT and hemoglobin are perfectly normal.
Any insight on what may cause this?

Other lab values that would be helpful include the Hb, HCT, and RBC indices (i.e., MCV, MCHC, etc.).

 

[slayer37]

Other lab values that would be helpful include the Hb, HCT, and RBC indices (i.e., MCV, MCHC, etc.).

Unfortunately, ferritin was not measured.
% saturation is 26%. See attached photo for HCT, etc.