Ferritin

Your body's iron store

Blood testPart of iron studiesUsually ng/mL or µg/L
Where does your result sit?ng/mL
ng/mL Low

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Uses a common adult range of 30–400 ng/mL. Your lab prints its own range beside your result, and that's the one to go by.

What ferritin measures

Ferritin is a protein that holds iron inside your cells. A small amount of it leaks into your blood, and that amount tracks how much iron you have in reserve.

That makes it the best single test for low iron stores. Ferritin often falls months before your haemoglobin does, so it can show iron running low before anaemia shows up on a full blood count.

Why your doctor ordered it

  • You've been tired or short of breath
  • Your haemoglobin was low, or your red cells were small
  • Heavy periods, pregnancy or a plant-based diet
  • To check iron tablets or an infusion are working

If it's low or high

Below the range

Your iron stores are running down. It's common, especially with heavy periods, pregnancy, blood donation or a diet low in iron. Your doctor may suggest iron tablets and a repeat test in two to three months, and may look for the cause.

Above the range

Ferritin rises for many reasons, and most aren't about iron. Infection, inflammation, liver conditions and alcohol all push it up. Occasionally it points to iron overload, so your doctor reads it alongside tests like transferrin saturation.

Questions for your doctor

  1. What do you think is behind my result?
  2. Do I need iron, and for how long?
  3. When should I have my ferritin checked again?

Ferritin is one line of many

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