Ferritin Test

What is a Ferritin test? 

Ferritin is the protein inside the red blood cells that stores iron. Ferritin (FAIR-eh-tin) test helps your doctor with how much iron is stored in the body. Iron is needed to make  red blood cells. When ferritin levels are low, the body makes fewer red blood cells. Ferritin levels can be high due to some medical conditions. Let the doctor know if your child had a blood transfusion or similar. This can affect the readings of a ferritin test.

What are the other names for a Ferritin test? 

Other names are  serum ferritin, serum ferritin level, ferritin serum

What are the test parameters included in a Ferritin?

There is only one parameter: Ferritin.

What does a Ferritin test measure?

• Ferritin testing evaluates the amount of ferritin that is circulating in the blood. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron, a very essential mineral that is needed for healthy growth and development.

• Iron cannot exist on its own inside the body. Instead, the iron binds to a protein called transferrin, which is transported to different parts of the body. The extra iron will be stored in ferritin, which is usually concentrated in the liver and the cells of the immune system.

• When the body requires it , it uses the stored iron, where  a metabolic process separates the iron from the ferritin inside the cell. In this process, a small amount of ferritin leaves the cell and moves into the bloodstream. A ferritin test analyses the amount of ferritin in the blood because it reflects the total amount of iron that is stored in your body.

What’s the normal range? 

Female : 11.1–264 ng/mL

Male: 17.9–464 ng/mL

​

Who should get a Ferritin test? 

Your doctor recommends a ferritin test if other blood tests point to possible anaemia, which can lead to a lack of oxygen in your blood. It can analyse and show if there is too much or too little iron in your body. The doctors can also use it to diagnose restless legs syndrome and Still's disease in adults (a rare type of arthritis with fever and rash).

Low iron could be the cause if you:

• Often feel dizzy, weak, and tired.

• Have headaches

• Look pale

• Are short of breath

• Have a rapid heartbeat

You may also feel and have strange cravings for licorice, chalk, dirt, or clay. You might feel a burning sensation on your tongue.

If you are left unchecked, low levels of iron may cause heart failure (when your heart doesn’t pump blood to your body as well as it should). It can also cause these symptoms:

• Chest pain

• Leg pain

• Ringing in the ears, or tinnitus

A ferritin blood test can also help the doctor to figure out whether your body is storing too much iron. high levels might point to alcohol abuse, infection, liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, overactive thyroid, or some types of cancer.

Symptoms of high iron levels vary and can include:

• Exhaustion

• Heart problems

• Joint pain

• Low sex drive

• Loss of body hair

• Stomach pain

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain

• Lack of energy

Preparations needed for the Ferritin test 

Fasting is not required for this test.

What is the cost of a Ferritin test?

What is the type of sample required?

This test requires a blood sample

Who performs a Ferritin blood test?

A healthcare provider called a phlebotomist usually performs blood draws, including those for a Ferritin blood test, but any healthcare provider trained in drawing blood can perform this task. The samples are sent to a lab where a medical laboratory scientist prepares the samples and performs the tests on analysers.

What should I expect during my Ferritin blood test?

You can expect the experience the following during a blood test, or blood draw:

• You will sit comfortably on the chair, and a healthcare provider will check your arms for an easily accessible vein. This is the inner part of your arm on the other side of your elbow.

• Once they have located a vein, they will clean and disinfect the area with an alcohol swab.

• Then they will insert a small needle into your vein to draw a blood sample. This might feel like a small pinch.

• After they have inserted the needle, the required amount of blood will collect in a test tube.

• Once they have collected enough blood to test, they’ll remove the needle and hold a cotton ball or gauze on the site to stop any bleeding.

• They will place a band-aid over the pricked site, and the blood collection is finished.

This process takes less than five minutes.

What should I expect after my Ferritin blood test?

After a healthcare provider has collected the blood sample, they will send it to a laboratory for testing. Once the test results are ready, your healthcare provider will share the results with you.

What are the risks of a Ferritin blood test?

These blood tests are very common and don’t carry any significant risks. You may have a  slight pain like an ant bite when the needle gets inserted, and a small bruise may develop there.

​

When can I expect my Ferritin results?

These reports are available via email or WhatsApp within 6 hours of the collection of the blood sample.

What do the results of a Ferritin mean?

• If you have lower than normal ferritin levels, it may mean you have iron deficiency anaemia or another condition related to low iron levels. This iron deficiency anaemia is a common type of anaemia, a disorder in which your body does not make enough red blood cells. Iron deficiency anaemia may cause heart problems, infections, and other health-related issues.

• Higher values than the normal ferritin levels can mean that you have too much of iron in your body. Usually, the conditions that can cause increased iron levels include liver disease, alcohol abuse and hemochromatosis, a disorder that can lead to cirrhosis, heart disease, and diabetes. 

• If the ferritin results are not normal, it does not mean that you have a medical condition needing treatment. Certain medicines can have side effects that can decrease or increase your ferritin levels. If you have any questions about your results, talk to your healthcare provider.

What are normal Ferritin results?

One common reference range for a Ferritin blood test is Male - 17.9–464 ng/mL and Female - 11.1–264 ng/mL (nanograms per microliter). 

Since the normal ranges can vary depending on the laboratory, it’s important to check your test result report to see what your specific lab’s reference range is.

​

How to book a Ferritin  test at home?

Log into www.orangehealth.in and submit your details. Our highly trained, professional, and vaccinated eMedics will be at your doorstep within 60 minutes or at the time booked by you.

​

​

​

FAQs on Ferritin Test

What happens if ferritin is high?

If the ferritin test shows higher than normal values, it could indicate that you have a condition that causes your body to store too much iron. That could also point to liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory conditions, or hyperthyroidism. 

What does a ferritin test tell you?

Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron is stored in your body. If ferritin reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body’s iron stores are low and you have an iron deficiency.

What is an abnormal ferritin level?

Several laboratories consider serum ferritin levels greater than 200 ng/mL in women and greater than 300 ng/mL in men to be abnormal. However, a large percentage of the general population has serum ferritin levels of between 200 and 1000 ng/mL.
 

What is a normal ferritin level?

The normal range for men is - 17.9 - 464ng/mL, Females < 50 yrs - 6.24 - 137 ng/mL, > 50yrs 11.1 - 264 ng/mL.  Usually, the reference range may vary slightly from lab to lab.