Anemia Testing: Common Tests for Detecting Anemia

Question
greetings Samantha!
hope to find you in the best of your health.
well, my question to you is that can you tell me what tests are mostly recommended in detecting anemia?

Answer
Hello Ayesha!  There is one screening test that can be used to detect anemia.  The first and most commonly ordered is a CBC (Complete Blood Count).  This will show is a person's H & H (Hemoglobin and Hematocrit) are low, which is anemia.  There are other tests that can be ordered to find out the reason for the anemia.  If iron deficiency anemia (the most common type of anemia) is suspected, then the doctor can order an iron, TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity), and a ferritin.  These tests will prove the iron deficiency anemia diagnosis.  Also an anemia called pernicious anemia is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B12 so there's another test that can be done.  With pernicious anemia, also some tests that are done are: folic acid methmelanoic acid (MMA), homocysteine, and reticulocyte count.  See the following link for more information on anemia:

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/anemia.html

Samantha