Iron Testing
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Health and Wellness Screening Services at CCH offers many different screenings including iron testing, which is called the ferritin blood test. So what exactly is a ferritin test?
The ferritin blood test measures the level of ferritin in the blood.
Ferritin is a protein inside your cells that stores iron. It allows your body to use the iron when it needs it. A ferritin test indirectly measures the amount of iron in your blood.
Why the Test is Performed
The amount of ferritin in the blood (serum ferritin level) is directly related to the amount of iron stored in your body. Iron is needed to make healthy red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to body tissues.
Your provider may recommend this test if you have signs or symptoms of anemia due to low iron. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells.
Normal Results
Normal value range is:
Male: 12 to 300 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
Female: 12 to 150 ng/mL
The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the person does not have enough iron.
The number ranges above are common measurements for results of these tests. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific results.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A higher-than-normal ferritin level may be due to:
Liver disease due to alcohol abuse
Any autoimmune disorder, such as rheumatoid arthritis
Frequent transfusion of red blood cells
Too much iron in the body (hemochromatosis)
A lower-than-normal level of ferritin occurs if you have anemia caused by low iron levels in the body. This type of anemia may be due to:
A diet too low in iron
Heavy bleeding from an injury
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Poor absorption of iron from food, medicines, or vitamins
Bleeding in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines
Risks
There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other.
Campbell County Health's low cost, walk-in blood draw program makes it easy and affordable for residents to have a Ferritin test. You can schedule your appointment online HERE. Have questions? Give Health and Wellness Screenings a call at 307-688-8051.
Article Source: Mount Sinai: Ferritin Blood Test