What’s the Ferritin Test Normal Range, and What’s It Low or High Range?
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Geetanjali Gupta
Written By Muskan Taneja
on Dec 9, 2024
Last Edit Made By Muskan Taneja
on Dec 9, 2024
Do you often feel the urge to eat ice? Let us tell you, you are anemic.
Anemic people have a medical condition caused by iron deficiency, leading to anemia. It is a very serious health condition that is often neglected.
Studies found that 25% and 57% of men and women, respectively, are anemic. A ferritin test can help detect this condition and plan an effective treatment process.
Today’s blog will teach you about the ferritin test and its normal range.
What is the Ferritin Test?
Ferritin is a protein containing iron, which gets released whenever needed. It helps curb iron deficiency. Your body stores ferritin and releases it whenever needed. It helps to make oxygen in your blood.
Your doctor may recommend the ferritin test to measure the amount of iron.
A ferritin blood test measures the ferritin levels in your blood. It can also diagnose high or low amounts of iron in your body.
The ferritin blood test is popular and has several names. Such as:
- Serum ferritin test
- Ferritin level test
- Iron storage test
Also, read https://redcliffelabs.com/myhealth/lab-test/ferritin-test-price-procedure-preparations-range-2024/.
Ferritin vs. Iron
Ferritin and iron are different components. Iron is a mineral you receive from food, whereas ferritin is a protein that stores iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor locate whether your body stores a healthy amount of iron.
People Who Need the Ferritin Test
A doctor may recommend the ferritin test as a follow-up test to measure the iron level in your body. However, certain people should take the ferritin test.
- Underweight people
- People assigned female at birth (AFAB) who notice heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Pregnant woman.
- People who find it difficult to absorb food.
- People with inflammatory bowel disease or undergo gastrointestinal (GI) surgical procedures.
Does the Ferritin Test Pose any Complications?
A ferritin test is a blood test with the same procedure as other blood tests. The ferritin test procedure requires no fasting. However, your healthcare provider may recommend fasting based on your health condition.
The ferritin blood test has no or slight risk, such as tenderness or a bruise on the blood draw site. The signs disappear quickly.
Understanding the Ferritin Test Result
The ferritin test results provide information about your ferritin levels in the blood. The results can be normal, high, or low.
After looking at your test reports, your doctor analyzes your overall health and symptoms. Accordingly, they plan a treatment and management process.
The ferritin test normal range differs based on age and sex. The serum ferritin normal range in children and adolescents is lower than in adults.
Normal Ferritin Levels By Age
The ferritin test normal range differs by age and gender. Here is the ferritin level chart for each age.
Ng- nanograms, mL- milliliter
| Age | Ferritin Levels (ng/mL) |
| Infants and Children | |
| Newborns | 25 to 200 |
| 1 month to 1 year | 50 to 200 |
| 1 year to adolescence | 7 to 140 |
| Adults | |
| Men (18 years and above) | 20 to 250 |
| Women (18 years to 39 years) | 10 to 120 |
| Women (40 years and above) | 12 to 263 |
Consult your healthcare provider to understand the ferritin test's normal range. The level may differ based on your current health, age, symptoms, and laboratory method.
Low Ferritin Level
If you have lower than normal ferritin levels, you may have anemia. Anemia is an iron deficiency that can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender.
Your doctor may recommend certain other tests to confirm the diagnosis. The causes of low ferritin levels include:
- Poor diet
- Lack of iron
- Heavy periods
- Excessive bleeding in the stomach or intestines
- Certain medical conditions.
10 Symptoms of Low Ferritin Level
The following are the symptoms of low ferritin levels.
- Tiredness
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Burning tongue
- Cravings for licorice, chalk, clay, paper, ice, or dirt.
- Headaches
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Difficulty breathing
High Ferritin Level
A high ferritin level shows you have hemochromatosis. It is a medical condition that can happen when you have too many iron levels in the blood. Several factors can cause a high ferritin level, including:
- Multiple blood transfusion
- Taking several iron pills or supplements
- Infection caused by inflammation
- Some types of cancer
- Autoimmune disorder
10 Symptoms of the High Ferritin level
The following are the symptoms of a high ferritin level.
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- Belly pain
- Joint pain
- Skin that looks metallic, bronze, or gray
- Heart problem
- Weight loss
- Body hair loss
- Foggy or dull memory
- Low interest in sex or trouble with erection
Tips to Manage The Ferritin Levels
Ferritin is a source that stores iron in the body. The best tip to manage the ferritin level is an iron-rich diet. A sufficient amount of iron can help balance ferritin levels in your body.
Various animal- and plant-based food sources contain iron. Add them to your diet, ferritin supplements and iron infusions.
The supplement and infusion have no major side effects. However, take them only after consulting with your doctor. It is important to tackle the underlying medical condition mindfully.
Taking the ferritin blood test can help keep track of its level in your blood. This is the best way to prevent any serious health issues. Take the serum ferritin test from Redcliffe Labs, priced at INR 399. The test can measure your ferritin levels and diagnose diseases related to high or low iron levels.
FAQs
Ques1 What are dangerously high ferritin levels symptoms?
Ans1 Symptoms of high ferritin levels include weakness, joint pain, abdominal pain, foggy memory, or body hair loss.
Ques2 What are dangerously low ferritin levels?
Ans2 The dangerously low ferritin levels differ in every gender. Men can have below 24-336 mcg/L, and women can have low ferritin levels of 11-307 mcg/L.
Ques3 Is a ferritin level 5 dangerous?
Ans3 A ferritin level of 5 or lower is considered dangerously low. It also indicates anemia.
The Bottom Line
Keeping track of the ferritin test's normal range is necessary to detect an underlying medical condition early. However, there is nothing to panic about regarding low or high ferritin levels. If you see an abnormal test result, discuss your test results with a healthcare professional. They may recommend additional testing. If they do, visit the Redcliffe Labs website and book the test. Redcliffe Labs offers over 3600 tests, including routine blood tests and genetics. Take the test and take charge of your health.
