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Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia

Including Iron Supplementation for Children and Pregnant Women

This topic is in the process of being updated. Please go to the Update in Progress section to see the latest documents available.

This topic page summarizes the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations on screening for iron deficiency anemia.

Current Recommendation

Release Date: May 2006

Screening Children and Pregnant Women for Iron Deficiency Anemia

  • The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine screening for iron deficiency anemia in asymptomatic children ages 6 to 12 months.
    Grade: I Statement.
  • The USPSTF recommends routine screening for iron deficiency anemia in asymptomatic pregnant women.
    Grade: B Recommendation.

Iron Supplementation for Children and Pregnant Women

  • The USPSTF recommends routine iron supplementation for asymptomatic children ages 6 to 12 months who are at increased risk for iron deficiency anemia (go to the Clinical Considerations for a discussion of increased risk).
    Grade: B Recommendation.
  • The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine iron supplementation for asymptomatic children ages 6 to 12 months who are at average risk for iron deficiency anemia.
    Grade: I Statement.
  • The USPSTF concludes that the evidence is insufficient to recommend for or against routine iron supplementation for nonanemic pregnant women.
    Grade: I Statement.

Supporting Documents

Recommendation Statement (PDF File, 80 KB; PDF Help)
Evidence Synthesis (PDF File, 350 KB; PDF Help)

Update in Progress

In an effort to make the USPSTF recommendations clearer and its processes more transparent, the Task Force is sharing drafts of its draft Research Plans, Evidence Reports, and Recommendation Statements for public comment. As a result, the final Recommendation Statement is not yet available.

Supporting Documents

Research Plan

USPSTF members work with researchers from an independent Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) to create a Research Plan that guides the systematic review of the evidence. The Research Plan consists of an analytic framework, key questions, and a literature search strategy or research approach.

Research Plan Public Comment Period
Draft Research Plan for Public Comment April 11–May 8, 2013

Current as of May 2013

Internet Citation:

Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia, Topic Page. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/uspsiron.htm

 


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