FERRITIN

FERRITIN

A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood. 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.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Liver dysfunction and other factors can cause a reduction in the clearance of serum ferritin resulting in an increase in serum ferritin levels. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant that may be elevated in a wide range of inflammatory conditions and infections.

The test can diagnose or suggest:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Hemachromatosis — a condition that causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat
• Liver disease
• Adult Still's disease
• Lack of menstrual periods

Decreased in iron deficiency anemia and increased in iron overload. The majority of ferritin iron stores are found in the liver, spleen and bone marrow.  Ferritin is an intracellular protein which plays a significant role in the adsorption, storage, and release of iron in the human body. 

The test can also be used to monitor your overall health, particularly if you have an iron-related condition that causes you to have too much or too little iron in your blood.