FERRITIN

A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a blood cell protein that contains iron. A ferritin test helps your doctor understand how much iron your body is storing.

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.

If a ferritin test shows higher than normal levels, it could indicate that you have a condition that causes your body to store too much iron. It could also point to liver disease, rheumatoid arthritis, other inflammatory conditions or hyperthyroidism. Some types of cancer also may cause your blood ferritin level to be high.

• Lower than normal results A lower than normal ferritin level indicates that you have iron deficiency. You may also be anemic. If your ferritin level is low, your doctor will work to determine the cause.
• Higher than normal results A higher than normal ferritin level can be caused by:
  • Hemochromatosis — A condition that causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat
  • Porphyria — A group of disorders caused by an enzyme deficiency that affects your nervous system and skin
  • Rheumatoid arthritis or another chronic inflammatory disorder
  • Liver disease
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Leukemia
  • Hodgkin's lymphoma
  • Multiple blood transfusions
  • Alcohol abuse

  If your ferritin level is above normal, your doctor may need to evaluate the results along with those of other tests to determine next steps.

  For specifics about what your ferritin test results mean, talk to your doctor.