You can test for anaemia with Vitall’s Anaemia Home Test Kit. It is the best and easiest way to investigate this common condition in a convenient manner, without having to leave your home. Using the anaemia test kit, you will get your results from an accredited clinical laboratory delivered securely online usually within 48 hours.

The Anaemia Home Test Kit combines six blood tests  that provide the most essential information for the assessment of anaemia: Full Blood Count (FBC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Ferritin, Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC), Red Cell Folate, and Vitamin B12.
 

Most anaemic people will present a whitish or pale pink colour in the inner part of the eyelids (conjunctiva) instead of the natural pink or reddish colour it usually has. This is not a coincidence and most people recognise it as a sign of anaemia. Haemoglobin gives the blood its red colour, and the blood gives the skin and mucous membranes their pink-reddish tones. A mucous membrane is the lining that covers internal organs, such as the conjunctiva, inside the mouth, genitals, etc.

Pallor represents a commonly used sign for predicting anaemia among physicians and patients, which has led scientists to determine how effective it is. A study[13] that included the conjunctiva, tongue, nail bed, and palms revealed that the presence of intense pallor is good for predicting severe anaemia. Similarly, the absence of pallor is a good way to rule out a severe case of anaemia. Mild and moderate anaemias are not so easy to predict with pallor. According to the study, the best place to look for pallor is the tongue.[13]

Pallor is a good indicator of anaemia; however, it is not diagnostic. It may also occur due to stress, heavy emotions, or other illnesses. Indeed, you may have anaemia without pallor. The best way to know if you have anaemia is with an anaemia blood test.
 

1. Newhall DA, Oliver R, Lugthart S. Anaemia: A disease or symptom. Neth J Med. 2020;78(3):104-110. Available from: https://www.njmonline.nl/article.php?i=234&d=1453&a=2206
2. Hamid M, Naz A, Alawattegama LH, Steed H. The Prevalence of Anaemia in a District General Hospital in the United Kingdom. Cureus. 2021;13(5):e15086. Published 2021 May 18. doi:10.7759/cureus.15086. Available from: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.15086
3. Conrad ME. Anemia. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, eds. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd ed. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/nbk254/
4. Madu AJ, Ughasoro MD. Anaemia of Chronic Disease: An In-Depth Review. Med Princ Pract. 2017;26(1):1-9. doi:10.1159/000452104. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1159/000452104
5. Lopez A, Cacoub P, Macdougall IC, Peyrin-Biroulet L. Iron deficiency anaemia. Lancet. 2016;387(10021):907-916. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60865-0. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(15)60865-0
6. Camaschella C. Iron-deficiency anemia. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(19):1832-1843. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1401038. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra1401038
7. Chung M, Chan JA, Moorthy D, et al. Biomarkers for Assessing and Managing Iron Deficiency Anemia in Late-Stage Chronic Kidney Disease: Future Research Needs: Identification of Future Research Needs From Comparative Effectiveness Review No. 83. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); January 2013. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/nbk143610/
8. Ganz T, Nemeth E. Iron metabolism: interactions with normal and disordered erythropoiesis. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med. 2012;2(5):a011668. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a011668. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3331689/
9. Lab Tests Online. Transferrin and Iron-binding Capacity (TIBC, UIBC). Accessed 17 July 2021. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/transferrin-and-iron-binding-capacity-tibc-uibc
10. Lab Tests Online UK. Full Blood Count (FBC). Accessed 17 July 2021. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org.uk/tests/full-blood-count-fbc
11. Hameed MA, Waqas S. Physiological basis and clinical utility of erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Pak J Med Sci. 2006;22(2):214-8. Available from: https://pjms.com.pk/issues/aprjun06/article/cme.html
12. Lab Tests Online. Vitamin B12 and Folate. Accessed 17 July 2021. Available from: https://labtestsonline.org/tests/vitamin-b12-and-fol
13. Kalantri A, Karambelkar M, Joshi R, Kalantri S, Jajoo U. Accuracy and reliability of pallor for detecting anaemia: a hospital-based diagnostic accuracy study. PLoS One. 2010;5(1):e8545. Published 2010 Jan 1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008545. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008545

Anaemia is a condition with very unspecific symptoms that are very easy to overlook; even when suspected, the diagnosis cannot be solely based on clinical symptoms. An anaemia blood test is designed to show underlying issues.

The first test required is an FBC (full blood count test), which includes haemoglobin, haematocrit, and RBC levels. While a FBC may be enough for your GP to diagnose anaemia, other tests are usually required for finding the root of the problem.

We will only discuss tests employed for highlighting common causes of anaemia that may affect anyone at any point in their lives, such as iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin B12/folate deficiency anaemia. Diagnosing other causes of anaemia requires tests that may be costly or complex to interpret without professional help; taking those tests without medical advice can be very impractical and expensive.

Full Blood Count Test (FBC)

A person with anaemia will typically have low haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), and RBC count. As previously discussed, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) may be increased (macrocytic), normal (normocytic), or decreased (microcytic) in cases of anaemia, leading to possible different causes.

Another valuable test we can get from an FBC is the RBC distribution width (RDW), which measures the amount of RBC size variation. Generally, RDW will be higher in vitamin B12/folate and iron deficiency anaemias.[10]

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Test (ESR)

ESR measures how fast the RBCs settle at the bottom of a small tube. Anaemia (especially macrocytic anaemia) will present a high ESR; this occurs because anaemic blood has fewer RBCs, allowing them to fall and sediment faster.[11]

Ferritin and Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)

In the context of iron deficiency anaemia, these tests will provide helpful information about the state of iron metabolism. As iron reserves become depleted, ferritin production decreases; for this reason, iron deficiency anaemia presents low ferritin levels. On the other hand, iron overload will cause high ferritin levels. TIBC levels will be increased in iron deficiency because it reflects the amount of iron that could be bound to transferrin.[9]

Red Cell Folate (RCF) and Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency is studied with these tests. RCF and vitamin B12 tests measure blood levels of folate and vitamin B12, respectively. Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate are useful during the diagnosis of macrocytic anaemias, including pernicious anaemia.[12]

By measuring the blood levels for each of these biomarkers, the Vitall anaemia home test provides a comprehensive overview of your anaemia risk and status.

The exhaustion of iron reserves is a process that requires time; the same can be said about the progression from iron deficiency to anaemia.

These events occur as a continuous process that can be described by three stages, characterised by the depletion of iron reserves (stage 1), iron deficient erythropoiesis (stage 2), and iron deficiency anaemia (stage 3).

Measuring iron levels with an anaemia blood test earlier in the process and treating low levels accordingly can help you prevent progression through these stages. [7]

Stage 1 – Iron storage depletion

During this first state, the utilisation of iron in the body surpasses iron intake. This means that iron reserves are slowly depleted throughout a certain amount of time, resulting in iron deficiency.

The body, however, does not develop anaemia right away; this mainly occurs because of the body’s ‘hidden’ reserve of iron. When circulating RBCs grow old (after 120 days, approximately), they are captured and destroyed: during this process, the iron contained in haemoglobin is recycled. This turnover of old RBCs occurs daily, creating a continuous supply of iron that slows down the development of iron deficiency.[8]

Stage 2 – Iron deficient erythropoiesis

The body begins to run out of iron, to the point of expending the iron already in use. Iron supply to the bone marrow is hindered, resulting in impaired erythropoiesis (RBC production). During this stage, RBCs may look slightly smaller and there may be mild anaemia.[8]

Stage 3 – Iron deficiency anaemia.

During this stage, the bone marrow produces less and smaller RBCs that contain less haemoglobin (iron deficiency anaemia). [5]

A myriad of signs and symptoms may suggest anaemia; however, it is not uncommon for these symptoms to be very mild or completely absent so taking an anaemia test is the best way to be certain. Anaemia is associated with:

• Pallor.
• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Dizziness.
• Headaches.
• Fast or irregular heartbeats.
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain.
• Feeling cold in the hands and feet.

The most evident signs of anaemia are sometimes associated with the cause rather than with anaemia itself. According to the mechanisms that precipitate anaemia, some of these signs may help to identify a cause:

• Blood loss:
  • Recent surgery or childbirth.
  • Recent injury.
  • Heavy menstruations.
  • Vomiting or coughing blood.
  • Having gastrointestinal ulcers.
  • Parasitic gastrointestinal infections.
  • Black or bloody stools.
  • Blood in the urine.
  • Having cancer.
  • Frequent blood donation.
• Increased RBC destruction:
  • Jaundice.
  • Infections (malaria, viruses, sepsis).
  • Severe hypertension.
  • Having vascular devices, such as prosthetic heart valves.
• Impaired RBC production:
  • Infections (tuberculosis, fungal infections).
  • Having cancer.
  • Having a diet with low levels of vitamin B12, folate, or iron.
  • Having bone marrow disorders.

If you have the signs and symptoms of anaemia we recommend discussing with your GP and taking an anaemia blood test to indicate underlying issues.

Iron deficiency occurs when iron reserves are low or depleted; rarely, iron deficiency may occur with normal reserves if there is a problem with iron supply to the bone marrow.[5] If iron deficiency is prolonged, iron deficiency anaemia will occur.[5]

Many conditions may produce iron deficiency. Blood loss is a common cause, and it presents the same signs and causes discussed in the previous section. However, blood loss must be chronic before being able to cause iron deficiency.[6]

Reduced iron intake is associated with malnutrition or having a diet with low iron content, including certain vegetarian and vegan diets.[6] Problems with iron absorption occur in people with coeliac disease, gastrointestinal surgeries (such as gastrectomy or duodenal bypass), inflammatory bowel disease, or Helicobacter pylori infection. Consuming certain drugs (like omeprazole or ranitidine), tea, coffee, calcium, may also reduce iron absorption.[5][6]

Anaemia of chronic disease is commonly associated with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and obesity. Certain genetic disorders may impair iron balance in the body, including Fanconi anaemia, iron-refractory iron deficiency anaemia, divalent metal transporter 1 anaemia.[5]

Nonetheless, iron deficiency is not only caused by disease. It may occur in normal circumstances that demand more iron than usual. Some important examples are the rapid growth seen during infancy, menstruation in adolescent girls, pregnancy, or frequent blood donation.[5][6]

Measuring your iron levels with a home anaemia test is an easy and reliable way to determine if your levels are too low.

Anaemia is a common condition characterised by decreased red blood cells (RBCs) or by their impairment to carry oxygen to the tissues.[1] Anaemia is usually diagnosed with the concentration of haemoglobin, a protein from RBCs that gives the blood its red colour and uses iron to carry oxygen. Normal haemoglobin values may vary depending on age, sex, and even weeks of pregnancy.[1]

Anaemia testing shows that anaemia affects almost a quarter of the general population, representing a frequent diagnosis that may affect any age group (especially children, pregnant women, and the elderly). Data from anaemia blood tests conducted in a general hospital from the United Kingdom revealed that 62% of hospitalised patients were anaemic, especially those over 65 years of age.[2]

Generally speaking, anaemia can be caused by three mechanisms: loss of blood, increased RBC destruction, or impaired RBC production. A disease or condition may employ one or more of these mechanisms to cause anaemia and, unfortunately, there is not one laboratory test able to rule in a specific cause of anaemia while, at the same time, rule out all the other possibilities.[3]

While certainly necessary, haemoglobin levels will only diagnose the presence of anaemia without telling us much about the cause behind it. Many other tools may be required for an appropriate diagnosis, depending on how complex the cause is. To facilitate the diagnostic process, anaemias are classified according to the size of RBCs, reported in full blood counts (FBC) as mean cell volume (MCV).[1][3]

• Microcytic anaemias are characterised by small RBCs and include the two most common causes of anaemia worldwide: iron deficiency anaemia, followed by anaemia of chronic disease.[1][4] Other causes include sideroblastic anaemia and thalassaemia.[1]
• Normocytic anaemias present RBCs with normal sizes and can be found in hospitalised patients, especially those who recently suffered blood loss or haemolysis (rupture of RBCs).[3] Anaemia of chronic disease most commonly presents with normal-sized RBCs, rather than smaller ones.[1]
• Macrocytic anaemias have large RBCs. They are frequently related to vitamin B12 or folate deficiency. However, they can be related to haemolysis, liver disease, hypothyroidism, alcoholism, myelodysplastic syndrome, and other conditions.[1]

While taking a home anaemia test cannot identify a specific type of anaemia, it can indicate problematic iron and FBC levels and help direct the need for further investigation.

The reference range of serum iron blood test for an adult male is 10.6 – 28.3 µmol/L; for females, it is 6.6 – 26 µmol/L. Normal iron levels, similar to other iron-related tests, may vary according to the context of each person. For example, the normal reference range of serum iron varies each trimester for a pregnant woman; similarly, these values for children change as they grow older.

Normal reference ranges may also vary slightly between different laboratories, regions, and countries. The Vitall home anaemia test will always show the current validated laboratory ranges for your age and sex, ensuring the correct comparison for your blood levels.

Iron is an essential trace element that cannot be produced from scratch inside the body; therefore, it must be ingested and absorbed from foods or supplements. The human body regulates iron with a lot of care, using special proteins for its storage (ferritin) and transportation (transferrin). Apart from haemoglobin, most of the iron in the body is bound to ferritin or transferrin; taking this into account, these two proteins give us a better insight into iron levels and function.[8]

Transferrin is produced in the liver and carries iron across the circulatory system. Most of the time, its value is represented by a percentage number that stands for transferrin saturation (how much iron is carried by transferrin).[8] Usually, healthy men and women have a transferrin saturation between 20 and 55%.

Transferrin values can be used to calculate the total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), which tells us how much transferrin can be bound to iron.[9] Typically, the normal reference range for TIBC is 41 to 77 µmol/L in males and females.

Ferritin is the main form of iron storage, kept inside of cells. Ferritin values range from 30 to 400 µg/L in males and 13 to 150 µg/L in females. This test is useful for determining how much iron is in reserve and potentially available for uptake by transferrin.[8]

Both TIBC and Ferritin are measured in the Vitall anaemia blood test to ensure your iron levels can be effectively assessed and monitored.