The Ferritin Blood Test measures ferritin, a protein that stores iron in the body. It can help assess your iron stores and support the investigation of possible iron deficiency or iron overload.
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside the body’s cells and releases it when iron is required.
A small amount of ferritin circulates in the blood. Measuring this amount can provide useful information about the body’s stored iron.
Iron is needed to produce haemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.
The Ferritin Blood Test may help:
• Assess the body’s iron stores
• Support the investigation of possible iron deficiency
• Support the investigation of possible iron overload
• Investigate symptoms that may be associated with low iron stores
• Monitor iron levels during or after treatment
• Support the assessment of anaemia alongside a Full Blood Count
• Monitor people with conditions that may affect iron storage
A low ferritin result usually suggests depleted iron stores. However, ferritin may increase during infection, inflammation or illness. Therefore, a normal or elevated result does not always exclude iron deficiency.
This test measures the concentration of ferritin in a venous blood sample.
The laboratory normally reports the result in micrograms per litre, written as µg/L.
Ferritin provides an indication of the amount of iron stored in the body.
A low ferritin concentration is commonly associated with reduced or depleted iron stores.
Iron stores may become reduced because of:
• Insufficient dietary iron
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pregnancy or increased iron requirements
• Regular blood donation
• Blood loss from the digestive system
• Reduced absorption of iron
• Coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease
• Previous surgery affecting the stomach or intestines
• Other causes of ongoing blood loss
Ferritin may be elevated because of increased iron stores. However, ferritin is also an acute-phase protein and can rise for reasons unrelated to iron overload.
An increased ferritin result may occur with:
• Infection or inflammation
• Liver disease
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Metabolic conditions
• Kidney disease
• Recent illness
• Iron treatment or supplementation
• Iron-overload conditions
• Other medical conditions
A Ferritin Blood Test cannot determine the cause of an abnormal result on its own.
The following tests and services are not included in this individual Ferritin Blood Test:
• Full Blood Count (FBC)
• Serum iron
• Transferrin
• Total Iron-Binding Capacity (TIBC)
• Transferrin saturation
• C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
• Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Liver function tests
• Kidney function tests
• Coeliac disease screening
• Haemochromatosis genetic testing
• Investigation of internal bleeding
• Medical consultation or physical examination
• Medical diagnosis or treatment
Ferritin alone cannot diagnose anaemia. A Full Blood Count is normally required to assess haemoglobin and red blood cells.
Ferritin alone also cannot diagnose hereditary haemochromatosis or confirm iron overload. Further tests, including transferrin saturation and liver investigations, may be required.
If you require an iron profile, Full Blood Count, CRP, vitamin testing or another investigation, it must be ordered separately.
You may consider a Ferritin Blood Test if you:
• Experience persistent tiredness, weakness or reduced energy
• Have pale skin, dizziness, headaches or unexplained breathlessness
• Experience hair shedding or changes in hair condition
• Have brittle or spoon-shaped nails
• Experience restless legs
• Have a sore tongue or cracks at the corners of your mouth
• Have heavy or prolonged menstrual periods
• Follow a diet that may provide limited iron
• Donate blood regularly
• Are pregnant, recently gave birth or have increased iron requirements
• Have a condition that may affect iron absorption
• Are taking iron supplements and require monitoring
• Have previously been told that your ferritin is low or high
• Have been advised to arrange the test by a healthcare professional
• Require investigation of possible iron deficiency or iron overload
These symptoms may have many possible causes. A Ferritin Blood Test cannot provide a diagnosis on its own.
If you are pregnant, receiving treatment for anaemia or have a diagnosed iron-overload condition, testing and treatment should be managed with a qualified healthcare professional.
Test name: Ferritin
Also known as: Serum Ferritin or Iron Stores Test
Test category: Clinical Biochemistry
Laboratory test code: FERR
Sample required: Venous blood sample
Laboratory sample type: Serum
Collection tube: Gold-top serum tube
Fasting required: No
Special preparation: No special preparation is normally required
Appointment duration: Approximately 15 minutes
Minimum age: Adults aged 18 and over
Estimated turnaround time: Usually within 1 working day after the sample reaches the laboratory
Laboratory testing: Testing is performed by an accredited partner laboratory
Available collection methods:
• Clinic Blood Collection
• Home Visit Blood Collection
Turnaround times are estimates and are not guaranteed. Results may take longer if the laboratory needs to repeat the analysis, perform additional checks or request a replacement sample.
Fasting is not required for this test. You may eat and drink normally before your appointment.
Before your appointment:
• Drink water and remain normally hydrated unless a healthcare professional has restricted your fluid intake.
• Continue taking prescribed medication unless the clinician responsible for your care has instructed you otherwise.
• Do not stop or change prescribed medication based on information from this website.
• Tell us if you are taking iron tablets, liquid iron, multivitamins containing iron or other supplements.
• Tell us if you have recently received an iron injection, iron infusion or blood transfusion.
• Tell us if you currently have an infection, inflammatory condition or recent illness, as these may increase ferritin.
• Tell us if you have recently had surgery, an injury or significant blood loss.
• Tell us if you are pregnant, recently gave birth or have experienced heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Provide previous ferritin, iron-profile or Full Blood Count results if the test is being used for monitoring.
• Tell the phlebotomist if you have previously fainted or felt unwell during a blood test.
If your test is being used to monitor iron treatment, follow the timing instructions provided by the healthcare professional responsible for your care.
Add the Ferritin Blood Test to your shopping cart.
Add either Clinic Blood Collection or Home Visit Blood Collection to your cart.
Please select one collection method only. Do not add both options.
Select “Book Your Appointment” and choose an available date and time for your blood sample collection.
Please use the same name, telephone number and email address used when placing your order.
Your identity and order will be checked before your blood sample is collected.
Your sample will be transported to our accredited partner laboratory for analysis.
Your laboratory report will be delivered securely when the testing process is complete.
BUTTON: Book Your Appointment
Your laboratory report will show your ferritin concentration together with the reporting laboratory’s reference range.
Ferritin reference ranges may vary according to age, sex, laboratory method and clinical circumstances.
A low ferritin result usually indicates reduced or depleted iron stores.
Iron deficiency may be present before haemoglobin becomes low or anaemia develops.
Possible causes include:
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Blood loss from the stomach or intestines
• Insufficient dietary iron
• Pregnancy or increased iron requirements
• Regular blood donation
• Reduced absorption of iron
• Coeliac disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Previous stomach or intestinal surgery
• Other sources of ongoing blood loss
A low result should be discussed with your GP or another qualified healthcare professional so that the underlying cause can be identified.
A ferritin result within the laboratory reference range may suggest adequate iron stores.
However, ferritin can rise during infection or inflammation. This means that iron deficiency may occasionally be present even when ferritin is within the reference range.
Further assessment may include:
• Full Blood Count
• C-Reactive Protein
• Serum iron
• Transferrin
• Total Iron-Binding Capacity
• Transferrin saturation
An increased ferritin result does not automatically mean that you have too much iron.
Ferritin may increase because of:
• Infection or inflammation
• Liver disease
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Metabolic conditions
• Kidney disease
• Iron treatment
• Recent illness
• Iron overload
• Other medical conditions
Further investigation may include repeat ferritin testing, transferrin saturation, liver function tests, CRP and other clinically appropriate investigations.
Ferritin alone cannot diagnose hereditary haemochromatosis.
Do not start taking high-dose iron supplements based only on symptoms or without appropriate test results and professional advice.
Too much iron can be harmful. Iron supplements must always be stored safely and kept out of the reach of children. An iron overdose in a young child can be fatal.
A low ferritin result should not be treated without considering its underlying cause.
Adult men, postmenopausal women and people with digestive symptoms may require further investigation if iron deficiency is identified.
Contact your GP or NHS 111 urgently if you experience:
• Increasing breathlessness
• Persistent dizziness or fainting
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Severe weakness
• Blood in your stool
• Black or tar-like stool
• Vomiting blood
• Unusually heavy or uncontrolled bleeding
• Persistent abdominal pain
• Unexplained weight loss or difficulty swallowing
Call 999 or attend Accident & Emergency if you have:
• Severe difficulty breathing
• Chest pain
• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Severe or uncontrolled bleeding
• Vomiting of a large amount of blood
Alpha Med Lab does not provide emergency assessment, diagnosis or treatment.
Do not delay urgent medical care while waiting for this test or its result.
If you are uncertain whether the Full Blood Count test is suitable for you, please contact Alpha Med Lab before placing your order.
Telephone: 07448 342115
Email: info@alphamedlab.co.uk
Add the Full Blood Count test to your cart, select one blood collection method and then book your appointment.
IMPORTANT: Blood collection is charged separately.
