Ferritin Test: Introduction, Test Result, Unit, Normal Range, Test Method, Clinical Significance, and Keynotes

Introduction of Ferritin Test

A serum ferritin test measures the level of ferritin in blood and it is a blood protein that contains iron. It will not be wrong to say that it is an indicator of how much iron the body stores. A low level of ferritin is seen in iron deficiency while a high amount is in liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune disease), other inflammatory conditions, or hyperthyroidism (low level of blood TSH). Some types of cancer (leukemia) also can cause blood ferritin levels to be high.

Ferritin Test-test Result, Unit, Normal Range, and Test Method

Clinical Significance of Ferritin

• The normal range for blood ferritin is given in a table.

Sex	ng/ml
Men	24-336
Women	11-307

• Its level is lower in iron deficiency anemia.
• It’s level higher in the following clinical conditions-

1. Hemochromatosis- It is a disorder in which the body can build up too much iron in the skin, heart, liver, pancreas, pituitary gland, and joints.
2. Porphyria — A group of disorders caused by an enzyme deficiency that affects your nervous system and skin
3. Rheumatoid arthritis or another chronic inflammatory disorder
4. Liver disease
5. Hyperthyroidism- Low level of blood TSH
6. Leukemia- a blood cancer
7. Hodgkin’s lymphoma
8. Multiple blood transfusions
9. Alcohol abuse
10. Using too many iron supplements

Keynotes

• The range of test reports may vary slightly from laboratory to laboratory due to using different equipment. The first table shows the normal range of both sex (male and female) and it is based on the principle of Chemiluminescent immunoassays (CLIA) equipment (automation).

• There is no special preparation for blood collection for this assay except fasting is preferred.
• This test is ordered by clinicians on suspicion of clinical conditions like iron deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis, liver disease, and adult Still’s disease.
• Symptoms of iron levels are shortness of breath, weakness or fatigue, dizziness, and arrhythmia.

Further Readings

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2717717/
2. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/ferritin-blood-test/
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17820-ferritin-test
4. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/tests/ferritin-blood-test