Ferritin blood test
Explanation
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron. A ferritin blood test helps estimate the body's iron stores. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Ferritin can also rise for reasons unrelated to excess iron.
What does a low ferritin result suggest?
Low ferritin usually points to depleted iron stores. It helps investigate iron deficiency, including before clear symptoms develop. The result does not explain why iron is low. Blood loss, diet or problems absorbing nutrients may need assessment.
Does high ferritin mean too much iron?
Not necessarily. Iron overload can raise ferritin, but inflammation and liver disease can raise it too. The result needs to be interpreted with your health history and other iron tests.
Inflammation can also make ferritin look normal or high even when iron is lacking. This is why a result inside the laboratory range does not always exclude iron deficiency. Ask how the ferritin result fits with the rest of your blood tests before deciding whether you need iron treatment.
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