Ferritin Test

A ferritin test measures how much ferritin you have in your blood. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. Low ferritin means you don’t have enough iron reserves in your body. Ferritin is like your body’s iron storage closet. It holds iron when you don’t need it. It releases iron when you do need it. So, ferritin levels reflect how much iron your body has in storage. Low levels mean you don’t have much iron saved up. High levels mean you have too much iron saved up.

Why a ferritin test is done

Healthcare providers usually order a ferritin test if a complete blood count (CBC) shows low hemoglobin or hematocrit. They’ll also order a test if you’re at risk for iron deficiency due to pregnancy, heavy menstrual bleeding or certain health conditions — or if you have symptoms of having too little or too much iron.

Symptoms of low levels of ferritin and iron

Some signs of low ferritin and iron are:

• Paler-than-usual skin
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Fast heartbeat

Symptoms of high levels of ferritin and iron

Some signs of high ferritin and iron are:

• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Joint pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Stomach pain
• Low sex drive

How does a ferritin test work?

A ferritin test involves a phlebotomist taking a sample of your blood. Then, they send it to a lab where a machine called an analyzer sees how much ferritin is in the sample.

Your healthcare provider may ask you not to eat or drink before your test. If you have any questions about how to prepare, talk to your provider.

What should I expect during my ferritin test?

The test collection process usually takes less than five minutes.

You can expect the following during a blood draw:

1. You’ll sit in a chair. Your provider will look for a vein to take blood from. This is usually in the inner part of your arm, on the other side of your elbow.
2. Once they find a vein, they’ll clean and disinfect the area.
3. They’ll insert a small needle into your vein to take a blood sample. This may pinch a little.
4. A small amount of blood will collect in a test tube.
5. Once they have enough blood, they’ll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the area.
6. They’ll place a bandage on top, and you’ll be finished.

What are the risks?

There’s very little risk to having blood tests. You may have tenderness or a bruise from the needle, but this usually gets better within a day or two.

What results do you get for a ferritin test?

You should have your ferritin test results within one or two days, though it could take a little longer. You may see the results show up in your electronic medical records. Or your provider may call you to go over the results.

A ferritin blood test report usually has the following information:

• The name of the blood test or what was measured
• The number or measurement of your blood sample result
• The normal range for that test (reference range)
• Some indication if your result is abnormal (high or low)

What are normal levels of ferritin?

Labs may have different reference ranges for normal ferritin levels. When you get your blood test results back, there will be numbers that show what that lab’s normal ferritin range is.

Normal ferritin level ranges are:

• Females: 15 to 205 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
• Males: 30 to 566 ng/mL.
• Children between 6 months and 15 years: 12 to 140 ng/mL.

Newborns and infants have varying ferritin levels depending on their exact age. For example, infants up to 6 months may have normal concentrations up to 650 ng/mL. Exact normal ranges depend on what ages a laboratory sets its cutoffs for and the measuring method used by the lab.

If you have any questions about your results, be sure to ask your healthcare provider.

What does low ferritin mean?

If you have a lower-than-normal ferritin test result combined with low blood counts, it’s called iron-deficiency anemia. Some common causes are:

• Not eating enough iron-rich foods
• Your body not absorbing enough iron from the food you eat
• Losing too much blood (like from your period or GI tract)
• Being pregnant
• Giving blood too frequently

If you have a low ferritin level test result, your provider will likely order additional blood tests. These include:

• Serum iron
• Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC)
• Transferrin saturation

What does a high ferritin level mean?

Ferritin test results may be high due to hemochromatosis, which causes your body to store too much iron. High ferritin levels can also happen due to inflammation in your body. Conditions like autoimmune diseases or infections that cause inflammation can also result in high ferritin.

Other factors that can lead to elevated ferritin include:

• Chronic illnesses like kidney disease and diabetes
• Cancer, especially of your blood or liver
• Liver damage due to alcohol use disorder, fatty liver disease or other reasons

Should I be concerned if my level is abnormal?

Having high or low ferritin levels doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Things like temporary medical conditions or a testing error can affect your results. If your result isn’t normal, your provider will go over it with you. They may order more blood tests to find out why your results were abnormal.

When should I call my doctor?

If you have symptoms of low or high iron and ferritin levels, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. You should also contact them if you have questions about your test results.