Difference Between Iron and Ferritin Blood Tests

Ferritin isn't the same thing as iron in your body. Instead, ferritin is a protein that stores iron, releasing it when your body needs it. Ferritin usually lives in your body's cells, with very little actually circulating in your blood.

1. Can ferritin be low and iron be normal?
2. Why is my iron high but ferritin low?
3. What diseases cause low ferritin?
4. What blood tests are done to check for iron deficiency?
5. Is a ferritin level of 15 low?
6. Does low ferritin affect sleep?
7. What is a good ferritin level for a woman?
8. What does ferritin level tell you?
9. How long does it take to get ferritin levels up?
10. Is low ferritin serious?
11. What happens when your ferritin is too low?
12. Does low ferritin make you tired?

Can ferritin be low and iron be normal?

Ferritin (<30 μg/L) is most sensitive and specific indicator of iron deficiency, although its pitfalls need to be taken into consideration. However, the ferritin concentration may be near to normal, while iron staining of a bone marrow aspiration sample is devoid of iron.

Why is my iron high but ferritin low?

The ferritin test is a simple blood test. High levels of ferritin can indicate an iron storage disorder, such as hemochromatosis, or a chronic disease process. Low levels of ferritin are indicative of iron deficiency, which causes anemia (a reduction in the number of oxygen-carrying red blood cells).

What diseases cause low ferritin?

However, ferritin levels are unreliable in:

• Acute or chronic inflammation. ...
• CKD.
• Heart failure.
• Liver disease.
• Excessive alcohol intake.
• Malignancy.
• Hyperthyroidism.

What blood tests are done to check for iron deficiency?

To screen for iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to see if you have lower than normal red blood cell counts, hemoglobin or hematocrit levels, or mean corpuscular volume (MCV) that would suggest anemia.

Is a ferritin level of 15 low?

Suspected iron deficiency anemia - a ferritin level of ≤15 mcg/L is a marker of depleted or absent iron stores, and confirms iron deficiency anemia in the presence of low Hgb or HCT.

Does low ferritin affect sleep?

Conclusion: Serum ferritin levels <45 microg/l might indicate a risk for sleep wake transition disorders, including abnormal sleep movements, in children with ADHD.

What is a good ferritin level for a woman?

The range of normal ferritin in most laboratories is 30 ng/mL to 300 ng/mL, and the mean is 49 ng/mL in women. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey describes iron deficiency in women as a low concentration of ferritin (<12 ng/mL).

What does ferritin level tell you?

Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body stores. If a ferritin test reveals that your blood ferritin level is lower than normal, it indicates your body's iron stores are low and you have iron deficiency. As a result, you could be anemic.

How long does it take to get ferritin levels up?

With double dose, 7 of 9 showed a ferritin rise in 2 days with return to subnormal levels within 6 days of discontinuing iron. This study indicates that standard treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults does not cause a rise in serum ferritin until hemoglobin levels are normal.

Is low ferritin serious?

Low ferritin levels

A result of low ferritin is strong evidence of an iron deficiency. The body requires iron to make hemoglobin, which is a protein in red blood cells that transfers oxygen from the lungs around the body. Without enough iron, a person may develop anemia.

What happens when your ferritin is too low?

Low levels of ferritin lead to iron-deficiency anemia. This means you have too few red blood cells. Iron deficiency can come from a poor diet or blood loss. Or your body may have trouble absorbing iron from food.

Does low ferritin make you tired?

If your ferritin levels are too low, you may feel fatigued and run down. Fatigue can often be linked to inadequate iron in the blood. And since ferritin is a marker of long-term iron intake, it's perfect for determining whether that worn-down feeling can be linked to your diet.