Which of the following is NOT part of the workup for anemia?

The workup for anemia typically involves several key tests that help determine the underlying cause and type of anemia. While a complete blood count (CBC) is an essential tool in the assessment of anemia, it is not utilized to evaluate the anemia itself but rather to provide an initial overview of the patient's blood parameters, including hemoglobin levels, hematocrit, and red blood cell counts.

In contrast, the iron panel, stool for occult blood, and ferritin are more directly involved in understanding the specific causes of anemia. The iron panel assesses the body’s iron stores and availability, stool for occult blood tests for potential gastrointestinal bleeding (a common cause of anemia), and ferritin specifically measures the stored iron in the body, which can indicate iron deficiency.

Thus, while a CBC is crucial for diagnosing anemia, it does not specifically investigate the causes or types of anemia, which is why it is not categorized as part of the more focused workup for anemia.