Assessing response to intravenous iron supplementation

Check the response to intravenous iron supplementation by measuring haemoglobin and ferritin concentration 4 weeks after therapy. Intravenous iron supplementation interferes with the accurate measurement of serum iron concentration for approximately 4 weeks.

Perform full blood count and iron studies (ie serum iron and ferritin concentrations, and total iron binding capacity) at least 6 months after intravenous iron supplementation to make sure iron deficiency has not recurred. If iron deficiency has recurred, the patient may need further investigation—consider referring the patient to a gastroenterologist.