Ferritin Test

How Our Ferritin Test Works

If you need to have your ferritin levels checked, getting your test is simple. Just place your order online, then head in to one of our 4,000+ nationwide testing facilities. You don’t need to make an appointment; just come on in when you’re ready! A member of the staff will collect your blood for the test, and you can be on your way. In fact, most patients will spend less than 30 minutes at the testing center. 

Once you have taken the test, it will be processed in a CLIA-certified laboratory. Once the results are in, usually in around 24-72 hours, you’ll receive a copy of your test results and can determine whether you may have low ferritin levels or, in some cases, high ferritin levels, which could be interfering with your health.

Common Symptoms of Low Ferritin

Ferritin stores iron and releases it when your body needs it. If you do not have the right ferritin levels in your body, it could indicate a number of ongoing problems. You may suspect that you have low ferritin levels if you have common symptoms¹, including:

• Persistent, unexplained fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Irritability

You may also notice that you suffer from ringing in your ears or unexplained weakness, which may also arise from low ferritin levels. 

High ferritin can cause its own set of problems, including weakness and fatigue, joint pain, or heart pain. Diagnosing those ferritin levels can help you determine what you need to do next.

How to Interpret Your Ferritin Test Results

Our results are as easy to interpret as possible so that you can feel confident that you have read them correctly. Our test clearly identifies the level of ferritin in your blood. On your results sheet, you’ll find several key pieces of information.

• Results: a numeric value that identifies how much ferritin you have in your blood. 
• The flag: the outcome of your test. It will be reported as either “normal,” “high,” or “low.”
• Reference range: The reference range will give you an idea of the normal range of ferritin in the human body, which can provide you with more information about where your ferritin levels fall. 

If you have questions about the results of your ferritin panel, you can contact us for more information.

Do I Need a Ferritin Test or an Anemia Panel?

The anemia panel takes a comprehensive look at whether you may be suffering from anemia, including low red blood cell count. Anemia occurs when a person’s red blood cell count falls below the healthy level. Our anemia panel measures:

• Complete blood cell count
• Total iron binding capacity
• Ferritin levels
• Vitamin B12 levels
• Folic acid levels

You may need the ferritin test alone if you suspect that your body is low on ferritin, which could interfere with iron storage and transportation even when you consume iron-rich foods. On the other hand, if you suspect a wider problem, including showing symptoms of anemia, you may find it more practical to go ahead and select the full anemia panel to get a better idea of how to best address your symptoms. Ferritin tests can also be used to monitor ferritin levels in your body if you have a condition that causes you to retain too much iron in your body, or if you need to monitor potential anemia levels over time.