Iron status Ferritin and Hb iron status

This test measures the amount of ferritin in blood and the (small) blood count, of which Hb is a part. (Serum and EDTA tubes are needed)

Ferritin is a protein found mainly in the liver and bone marrow that is used to store iron. A small amount of ferritin is found in the blood. The amount of ferritin in blood is a measure of the amount of ferritin (and therefore the amount of iron) in the liver and bone marrow.

Iron is needed for the production of red blood cells (hemoglobin) in the bone marrow. If the body has too little iron, it will first use up the reserve supply in the form of ferritin. Only when there is almost no ferritin left, the body makes too few red blood cells and anemia occurs.

When there is too much iron in the body, the amount of ferritin in the tissues and blood is too high and a condition called iron deficiency disease (hemochromatosis) develops.

The determination of ferritin along with Hb is a good test to determine iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can be caused by excessive blood loss, insufficient iron in the diet or insufficient absorption of iron (from food) in the intestines. Symptoms associated with anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Ferritin is also a good test to determine iron accumulation (hemochromatosis) in the body due to excess iron. Hemochromatosis is an inherited disease in which the body absorbs too much iron in the intestines. Symptoms that fit with iron accumulation disease are fatigue and pain in joints.