Understanding your Ferritin results
A ferritin test measures a protein in your blood that stores iron inside your cells. It helps your doctor understand how much iron reserve your body has saved for future needs.
What is the normal Ferritin range?
- India
- No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison.
- International
- Adults: 12–300 ng/mL (men); 12–150 ng/mL (women); <12 ng/mL may indicate depleted stores; >300 ng/mL may indicate excess
Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
Source: [WHO, 2011]
What does a high Ferritin result mean?
A high level can mean stored iron is high. It can also rise with inflammation, infection, or liver strain, so your doctor reads it in context.
What does a low Ferritin result mean?
A low level strongly suggests your iron stores are running down. People may notice tiredness, less stamina, or looking pale.
What affects your Ferritin result?
Recent infections, ongoing inflammation, liver conditions, and dietary changes can shift this result.
- Iron in your diet
- Ongoing blood loss
- Inflammation or infection
- Liver health
- Family history
Frequently asked questions
- What does a low ferritin level mean?
- A low result suggests your body's iron reserves may be depleted. Your doctor will review this alongside other blood tests to understand the underlying cause.
- Why would my ferritin result be high?
- Ferritin can rise when the body holds extra iron, but it also increases during periods of inflammation, infection, or liver stress. Your doctor will look at your overall health to interpret an elevated result.
- How is ferritin different from a regular iron test?
- A standard iron test checks the iron currently traveling through your bloodstream. Ferritin shows the total reserve of iron stored away in your body.
- What is Ferritin?
- Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside your cells. Its blood level mirrors the size of your body's iron reserves. Your doctor uses it to see whether your iron stores are low, healthy, or high. It is often the first marker to change when iron shifts.
- What is a normal iron store test range?
- A typical adult range is around Adults: 12–300 ng/mL (men); 12–150 ng/mL (women); <12 ng/mL may indicate depleted stores; >300 ng/mL may indicate excess. No India-specific national reference interval is published for this parameter; your lab's printed range is the most reliable comparison. Ranges vary by lab, method and equipment — the range printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
Full reference guide
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