Ferritin

Iron Storage (Ferritin)

Results

A ferritin blood test checks the amount of ferritin in the blood. Ferritin is a protein in the body that binds to iron; most of the iron stored in the body is bound to ferritin. The amount of ferritin found in the blood is the same amount that is in the body.

Normal

Normal values may vary from lab to lab.

Ferritin

Men:	18–270 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or 18–270 micrograms per liter (mcg/L)
Women:	18–160 ng/mL or 18–160 mcg/L
Children 6 months to 15 years:	7–142 ng/mL or 7–142 mcg/L
Babies 2 to 5 months:	50–200 ng/mL or 50–200 mcg/L
Babies 1 month:	200–600 ng/mL or 200–600 mcg/L
Newborn babies:	25–200 ng/mL or 25–200 mcg/L

 

High values

• Very high ferritin levels (greater than 1,000 ng/mL) can mean a large buildup of iron in the body (hemochromatosis). One form of this condition is passed on in families (genetic hemochromatosis). Some diseases, including alcoholism, thalassemia, and some types of anemia that cause red blood cells to be destroyed, can also cause hemochromatosis. Also, if you have many blood transfusions, this can sometimes cause the body to store too much iron (acquired hemochromatosis).
• High ferritin levels may also be caused by liver disease (cirrhosis or hepatitis), Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, infection, inflammatory conditions (such as arthritis or lupus), or a diet that is too high in iron.
• Too much iron in body organs, such as the pancreas or heart, can affect how the organ works.

Low values

Low ferritin levels often mean an iron deficiency is present. This can be caused by long-term (chronic) blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding, pregnancy, not enough iron in the diet, or bleeding inside the intestinal tract (from ulcers, colon polyps, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, or other conditions). In rare cases, too much iron may be lost through the skin (because of a disease such as psoriasis) or in the urine.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: September 12, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology/Oncology
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