Checking for anemia


Blood tests give your doctor a picture of how healthy your red blood cells (RBCs) are, and if you have enough iron.

Tests that show how your RBCs are doing:

  • Hemoglobin: This is the part of the red blood cell that contains iron and carries oxygen.
  • Hematocrit: Apercentage of RBCs within a sample of blood.


Tests that show where the iron is in your body and how it is being used:

  • Ferritin: This is a protein that reflects stored iron. Think of ferritin as gas in the tank. You need to have enough gas to keep a car running. This is why it is important to measure and track these values regularly. Remember, when you lose blood you lose iron and RBCs. Losing iron is like losing gas from your car.
  • Transferrin Saturation (TSAT): Transferrin is a protein that takes the iron from the storage protein (ferritin), or the iron that you're being treated with, and brings it to the bone marrow where it may be used to build healthy red blood cells. This lab value is a percentage. Think of it as the tube that brings the gas to the engine. It is the transportation vehicle for iron. A TSAT of <20% probably means that you do not have enough iron for your RBCs.

 
American Regent. Enriching the lives of anemia patients. ™

Important Safety Information

Serious allergic type reactions, including anaphylactic-type reactions, some of which have been life-threatening and resulted in death, have been reported in patients receiving Venofer® (iron sucrose injection, USP). Patients may experience shock, clinically significant hypotension (low blood pressure), loss of consciousness, and/or collapse. If allergic type reactions occur during use, use of Venofer® should stop immediately. Patients should be observed for signs and symptoms of allergic type reactions during and after use of Venofer® for at least 30 minutes and until clinical symptoms are normal. Venofer® should only be given when people, equipment and drugs are immediately available for the treatment of serious allergic type reactions.

Significant hypotension (low blood pressure) has been reported in patients who receive Venofer®. Hypotension (low blood pressure) following administration of Venofer® may be related to how fast and how much of the drug is given.

Venofer® should not be taken if you have symptoms of too much iron in your blood (including low blood pressure, taste disturbance, joint aches, and nausea/vomiting), or if you have a known allergy to Venofer®.

In studies, the most common side effects of Venofer® included a temporary drop in blood pressure, infections, taste disturbance, muscle cramps, swelling of the arms and legs, nausea, headache, and diarrhea. These are not all the possible side effects of Venofer®. For more information ask your healthcare professional or contact American Regent at 1-800-645-1706.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see Full Prescribing Information.