Ferritin

Test Description

The ferritin test is used to measure the amount of ferritin in the blood. Ferritin is a protein found in the blood that contains iron. Hence, the ferritin test will allow your doctor to measure the amount of iron stored in your body.

With the help of this test, the healthcare experts will check the amount of iron in your body to diagnose one of the following:

Iron deficiency anemia

Hemochromatosis- a condition that causes your body to absorb an excess of iron

Liver disease

Still's disease in adults

To prepare for the test, there is no strict requirement. You just need to give a blood sample to the lab tech or nurse. They will use a syringe to draw the blood out and send the sample to the lab for analysis.

What are the reasons to recommend Ferritin Test?
Iron is an essential component in the blood. The increase and decrease in its levels affect the overall health of the body.

If the level of this protein is low in your blood, you will experience the following symptoms:

Unexplained fatigue

Dizziness

Chronic headaches

Unexplained weakness

Ears ringing

Irritability

Leg pain

Shortness of breath

If the ferritin levels are high, it will also lead to some unpleasant symptoms:

Stomach pain

Chest pain and heart palpitations

Unexplained weakness and fatigue

Joint pain

If you have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, your healthcare provider is most likely to ask you to take the test.

What is the normal range of Ferritin in the blood?
The usual range of ferritin in the blood will be different for men and women. For men, the amount of ferritin must be within 24 to 336 micrograms per liter. For women, the ideal range is 11 to 307 micrograms per liter.

What do the results mean?
In the test, the ferritin levels are determined. If the level is lower than normal, it indicates that you have an iron deficiency, which is caused because you don’t consume enough iron in your diet. Another possible condition that has a negative effect on the iron levels is anemia.
If you are a woman, there can be some other underlying problem you must be facing, such as:
.

Excessive menstrual bleeding

Stomach condition affecting the intestinal absorption

Internal bleeding

The level of ferritin will help the healthcare experts to determine the cause of the problems you are facing.

However, if the ferritin test results are higher than usual, it can be an indication of certain more serious conditions:

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hyperthyroidism

Adult's Onset Still's Disease

Type 2 Diabetes

Leukemia

Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Iron poisoning

Blood transfusion

Liver diseases

Restless Leg Syndrome

Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant. It means that whenever the body experiences inflammation, the ferritin levels will rise. Hence, checking the levels on time is necessary as it can help detect severe medical conditions at an early stage.

Testing Info:

Alternate Name: Ferritin Blood Test

Test Instructions : Please do not exercise prior to testing. It is best that your blood is taken in a rested state.

Fasting: No

Methodology: Immunoassay (IA)

Results In: 2 Working Days

Note: Turnaround times on results are an estimate and are not guaranteed. The lab may need additional time due to holidays, confirmation/repeat testing, etc. You can contact us to discuss when your results should be ready and we will contact the lab on your behalf immediately.