Serum Ferritin Blood Test

Ferritin Test: quick answers

Ferritin Test price

₹849, home sample collection

Normal range (adults)

Men: about 30 to 400 ng/mL; Women: about 15 to 150 ng/mL more

Done for

Tiredness, hair fall, breathlessness or pallor; Anaemia with small red cells on a CBC; Heavy periods, pregnancy or a vegetarian diet with suspected low iron

Fasting

Not required

Report

Same day / 24 hours

What is the Ferritin Test?

Ferritin is the protein that stores iron in the body, and the amount in blood reflects your iron stores. A low ferritin is the most specific single blood sign of iron deficiency. A high ferritin can mean too much iron, but it also rises with inflammation, infection and liver disease.

Ferritin Test normal range

ng/mL and µg/L are the same. Because ferritin rises with infection or inflammation, WHO uses a cut-off of 70 ng/mL for iron deficiency in adults who have inflammation, and many doctors treat values below 30 ng/mL as low iron stores.

Ranges differ between laboratories and methods. The reference range printed on your own report is the one to read your result against.

What your Ferritin Test result means

Low ferritin

Strongly suggests low iron stores, even before haemoglobin falls. A doctor will usually look for the cause, such as diet, heavy periods or blood loss from the gut.

High ferritin

Can occur with inflammation, infection, fatty liver, alcohol use, obesity, kidney disease, cancer or iron overload (such as haemochromatosis or many transfusions). Transferrin saturation helps tell iron overload from inflammation.

Normal ferritin

Iron stores are probably adequate. In someone with active inflammation, a normal ferritin can still hide iron deficiency.

One result is not a diagnosis. A doctor reads it with your symptoms, history, medicines and other tests.

Ferritin Test levels: what does my number mean?

Ferritin below 15 ng/mL

Iron stores are used up (the WHO cut-off for iron deficiency in adults). It is a common cause of tiredness, hair fall and anaemia; doctors look for the cause, such as heavy periods or blood loss. Often checked next: Iron Profile Test.

Ferritin 15 to 30 ng/mL

Low iron stores. Many doctors treat iron deficiency below 30 ng/mL, especially with symptoms or anaemia. Often checked next: CBC Test.

Ferritin above 300 ng/mL

High. Ferritin rises with infection and inflammation, liver disease, alcohol and excess weight, and with iron overload. Doctors check transferrin saturation to tell these apart. Often checked next: Iron Profile Test.

Typical adult cut-offs. Read your number against the range printed on your own report, and with a doctor if it is outside it.

Why is the Ferritin Test done?

• Tiredness, hair fall, breathlessness or pallor
• Anaemia with small red cells on a CBC
• Heavy periods, pregnancy or a vegetarian diet with suspected low iron
• Monitoring iron tablets or iron injections
• Suspected iron overload, for example after many transfusions

What does the Ferritin Test (Serum Ferritin) measure?

1 parameter. Expand a group to see the measurements, units and available method details.

The reference interval printed on your actual laboratory report governs interpretation. Intervals can vary by laboratory, method, age, sex and pregnancy. Methods can also vary by processing laboratory.

Ferritin Test: sample & preparation

Sample: Blood. Fasting: Not required.

• You do not need to fast for this test. Mention any recent infection or inflammation to your doctor, as this can raise the result independent of your iron stores.

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