Ferritin Test in Piwali, Thane, Maharashtra

Ferritin testing is commonly advised for:

• Symptoms of low iron — tiredness, weakness, breathlessness, hair fall, brittle nails, restless legs, pale skin or poor concentration.
• Anaemia on a blood count (low hemoglobin or MCV), to find out whether iron deficiency is the cause.
• Heavy or long periods, pregnancy, frequent blood donation, or a diet low in iron, such as some vegetarian diets.
• Monitoring iron treatment — doctors usually recheck ferritin after a few months to confirm stores have been replenished.
• Suspected iron overload, such as in haemochromatosis or after repeated blood transfusions.
• Chronic conditions where iron levels matter, such as kidney disease, inflammatory bowel disease or heart failure.

Ferritin results can help point to:

• Low ferritin: iron deficiency, even before anaemia develops; chronic blood loss from heavy periods, piles or stomach ulcers; poor absorption such as in coeliac disease; and inadequate dietary iron.
• High ferritin: iron overload (haemochromatosis or repeated transfusions), but also infections and inflammation, fatty liver, alcohol-related liver disease, diabetes, obesity, kidney disease and some cancers, since ferritin rises as an "acute-phase" protein.

Because inflammation can push ferritin up even when iron stores are low, doctors often add CRP and iron studies (serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation) to interpret borderline results.

1. Fasting is generally not mandatory for ferritin, but many labs prefer a morning, fasting sample, especially if iron studies are done together, since serum iron changes through the day and after meals.
2. Avoid iron supplements for 24–48 hours before the test unless your doctor says otherwise.
3. Tell your doctor about recent illness, infection or blood transfusion, which can affect the result.
4. Avoid taking high-dose biotin supplements before the test, as some assays can be affected.

Many doctors treat ferritin below about 30 ng/mL as iron deficiency, even if it lies within the lab's printed range. Values above about 1,000 ng/mL need medical evaluation. Ranges vary between laboratories.

Further reading: MedlinePlus – Lab tests, Mayo Clinic – Tests & procedures, Cleveland Clinic – Diagnostics, Lab Tests Online. Values are approximate and may vary by laboratory; this page is general information, not medical advice.