What is ferritin?
Ferritin is the major iron storage protein of the body. Ferritin levels can be used to indirectly measure how much iron is in the body. Ferritin has the shape of a hollow sphere that permits the entry of a variable amount of iron for storage (as ferric hydroxide phosphate complexes).
What is the ferritin blood test?
The ferritin test uses venous blood to measure ferritin levels. The test is sometimes ordered together with other tests to help evaluate the body’s iron stores, such as an iron level or a total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) test.
- The ferritin test measures the level of ferritin, the major iron storage protein in the body.
- The ferritin test is a simple blood test.
- High levels of ferritin can indicate an iron storage disorder, such as hemochromatosis, or a chronic disease process.
- Low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency, which causes anaemia (a reduction in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells).
Knowing whether you have too much ferritin in your blood or not enough can give your doctor clues about your overall iron levels. The more ferritin in your blood, the more stored iron your body has.
Low ferritin levels
Your doctor may order a ferritin test if you have some of the following symptoms associated with low ferritin levels:
- unexplained fatigue
- dizziness
- chronic headaches
- unexplained weakness
- ringing in your ears
- irritability
- leg pains
- shortness of breath
High ferritin levels
You can also have very high ferritin levels, which can cause unpleasant symptoms as well. Symptoms of excess ferritin include:
- stomach pain
- heart palpitations or chest pains
- unexplained weakness
- joint pain
- unexplained fatigue
Ferritin levels can also increase as a result of damage to your organs, such as the liver and spleen.
The test can also be used to monitor your overall health, particularly if you have an iron-related condition that causes you to have too much or too little iron in your blood.
You might feel faint or lightheaded.
A lump or bruise might occur under the skin.
You might have slight pain where the needle went in
How you prepare
In some instances, your doctor may ask you not to eat for at least 12 hours before your blood is drawn. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC), the test is more accurate when it is performed in the morning after you have not eaten for a while.
How it is performed
The ferritin test requires only a small amount of blood to diagnose your ferritin levels accurately.
A healthcare professional may apply a band around your arm to make your veins more visible. After wiping your skin with an antiseptic swab, the provider inserts a small needle into your vein to obtain a sample. This sample is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
You should not have to take any special precautions before having the blood test.
Your ferritin blood test results are first evaluated to see if your levels are within normal ranges. According to the Mayo Clinic, the typical ranges are:
- 20 to 500 nanograms per millilitre in men
- 20 to 200 nanograms per millilitre in women
Note that not all laboratories have the same results for ferritin levels in the blood. These are standard ranges, but separate labs may have different values. Always ask your doctor for the particular lab’s normal range when determining if your ferritin levels are normal, high, or low.
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