| 1. Prior to starting iron therapy in therapeutic doses in patients with known hemoglobinopathy |
| 2. When an alternative etiology of microcytic anemia is being considered (chronic inflammation, lead toxicity, sideroblastic anemia) |
| 3. Suboptimal response to oral iron when compliance is doubtful |
| 4. In non-anemic women at increased risk of iron depletion, such as those with previous anaemia, multiple pregnancy, teenage pregnancy, pregnancy with high risk of bleeding, consecutive pregnancies with less than a year’s interval |
| 5. After 8 weeks of therapeutic iron therapy when non anemia iron deficiency is being treated (i.e. serum ferritin < 30 ug/dl without anemia) |
| 6. Preferably prior to parenteral iron therapy to confirm iron deficiency |
