The iron deficiency calculator takes actual hemoglobin, target hemoglobin, weight and one way and returns iron stores and deficit. It is built for quick answers, for checking somebody else’s arithmetic, and for the moments when a formula book is not within reach.
What Is the Iron Deficiency Calculator?
The iron deficiency calculator gives you an estimate of iron stores and deficit based on actual hemoglobin, target hemoglobin, weight and one way.
It is a quick reference figure rather than a diagnosis, and it is most useful for tracking how a number moves over time rather than for interpreting a single reading.
How the Iron Deficiency Estimate Is Worked Out
The calculation follows published reference relationships, so it is a reasonable approximation when the inputs are accurate. It assumes an average adult and does not account for individual variation.
If you are comparing two people, or the same person over a period of weeks, keep the method and the inputs identical. A change in the method can easily look like a change in the person.
What This Calculator Does Not Do
It does not diagnose anything, and it does not replace advice from a clinician. If a figure comes out at an extreme, or if it differs sharply from what you expect, that is a reason to speak to a professional rather than to adjust the inputs.
Nothing you type here is stored or sent anywhere. The whole calculation happens in your browser.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with actual hemoglobin set to 10, target hemoglobin set to 5, weight set to 2, the calculator returns deficit of 6, and iron stores of 30. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out iron stores?
Enter actual hemoglobin, target hemoglobin, weight and one way. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports iron stores and deficit.
What does the iron deficiency actually calculate?
It takes actual hemoglobin, target hemoglobin, weight and one way and converts them into iron stores and deficit using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter actual hemoglobin?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.
Does anything you type get stored?
No. The whole calculation runs inside your browser, and nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or sent anywhere.