Serum Ferritin

Iron stores, anaemia

Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside the body's cells, and the small amount in the blood reflects how much iron you have stored. A low ferritin is a reliable sign of iron deficiency, often before anaemia develops. Ferritin also rises with inflammation, infection and liver disease, so your doctor reads it alongside other tests.

• If you feel tired, weak or breathless, or a blood count shows anaemia
• If you have heavy periods, are pregnant or eat little iron-rich food
• To check iron stores during or after iron treatment
• If iron overload is suspected, for example in people who have frequent blood transfusions

No special preparation is necessary and you do not have to fast. If you take iron tablets, tell your doctor, as this helps in reading the result. Keep taking your other medicines as usual.

Sample

Blood sample

How it works

At your home, the collector takes a small blood sample from a vein in your arm. It is quick, taking just a few minutes.

Report

Within 24 hours of collection.

The report shows your ferritin level next to the laboratory's reference range. A low ferritin strongly suggests low iron stores. A high ferritin can be caused by inflammation, infection, liver disease or, less often, too much iron in the body, so a normal or high result does not always rule out iron deficiency. Your doctor will interpret it together with your blood count and other iron tests.

One test: Serum Ferritin, from one blood sample.