In a client with iron deficiency anemia, what abnormal laboratory level should the nurse expect to find?

In a client with iron deficiency anemia, an increased total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) is expected due to the body's response to low iron levels. When iron stores are depleted, the body produces more transferrin, a protein that binds iron and transports it in the bloodstream. This increase in transferrin leads to a higher TIBC, as the body attempts to maximize iron absorption and utilization despite insufficient iron availability.

TIBC is an important diagnostic marker in assessing iron metabolism; in the context of iron deficiency, the elevation signifies the body’s effort to compensate for the lack of circulating iron. This response highlights the relationship between iron stores and binding capacity, underlining why TIBC is elevated in this condition, differentiating it from other forms of anemia where TIBC may be normal or decreased.