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Ferritin Test

Get a unique view of the iron levels in your body with a ferritin blood test.

Iron is an essential mineral that carries oxygen throughout the body in red blood cells. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron for future use when the body needs it most. While an iron test gives the current amount of iron in your blood, this ferritin test measures your body’s overall iron storage and determines if you have a healthy amount of iron in your body. 

When iron levels drop too low, your body cannot make enough hemoglobin to produce the red blood cells it needs. As a result, you may become anemic, which may cause you to feel tired, dizzy, or short of breath. If left untreated, anemia may worsen and lead to additional symptoms. If iron levels get too high, your body absorbs more than is needed, which may be a sign of additional health problems like liver disease, heart problems and diabetes. 

$ 59.0
$59
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Ferritin Test
$ 59.0
$59

Test Details

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Sample Type: Blood
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Collection Method: In person at a Labcorp location
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Age: 18+
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Results: 1 day from when your sample arrives at our lab
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HSA/FSA: Accepted
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Test must be taken by purchaser

Preparation: If you’re taking a supplement containing biotin (also called vitamin B7 or B8, vitamin H, or coenzyme R), commonly found in products promoting nail, skin and hair health, it is recommended that you wait at least 72 hours from your last dose before sample collection.

What's Tested
  • Ferritin

    A protein that stores iron inside your red blood cells.

Why Consider This Test

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Concerned about low iron levels?

Iron-deficiency symptoms develop over time and may initially be mild but can worsen over time if not treated.

Iron-deficiency symptoms develop over time and may initially be mild but can worsen over time if not treated.

Symptoms of iron deficiency include fatigue, chills, dizziness and difficulty concentrating.¹

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Eating the right foods?

Symptoms of anemia caused by iron deficiency can be alleviated by adopting to an iron-rich diet, including legumes, protein (beef, poultry, eggs) and vegetables (dark, leafy greens).² 

Symptoms of anemia caused by iron deficiency can be alleviated by adopting to an iron-rich diet, including legumes, protein (beef, poultry, eggs) and vegetables (dark, leafy greens).² 

Your health care provider may prescribe an iron supplement if you are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia by your provider.

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At greater risk?

Some people at greater risk for developing iron-deficiency anemia, including2,3:

Some people at greater risk for developing iron-deficiency anemia, including2,3:
• Women during their reproductive years, due to lost blood during menstruation. 
• Vegetarians, because iron from grains and vegetables is not as readily absorbed as iron from meat. 
• Pregnant or nursing women who need more than their otherwise recommended daily amount of iron.

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References:

1. Cleveland Clinic. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Cleveland Clinic website. Accessed November 30, 2022. Reviewed April 21, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22824-iron-deficiency-anemia

2. Mayo Clinic. Anemia. Mayo Clinic website. Updated February 11, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

3. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute website. Updated March 24, 2022. Accessed November 9, 2022. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/anemia/iron-deficiency-anemia

4. Cleveland Clinic. Ferritin Test. Cleveland Clinic website. Reviewed May 17, 2022. Accessed December 16, 2022. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/17820-ferritin-test

5. MedlinePlus. Ferritin Blood Test. MedlinePlus website. Reviewed January 1, 2022. Accessed December 16, 2022. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003490.htm

How It Works

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Purchase Your Test

Simply purchase this test online. A healthcare provider will review and approve your test requests; no healthcare provider visit is required.

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Provide Your Sample

Visit a Labcorp location near you for sample collection. Visits may be scheduled online.

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Get Your Results

View your easy-to-read results online in your Labcorp Patient™ account, including Linked Accounts. For certain results that require prompt attention, you will also be contacted by phone or mail.

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Labs in more than 2,000 locations across the country.

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Frequently Bought Together

FAQ

  • A ferritin test measures the amount of ferritin in your blood — a protein that stores iron inside your cells. Your ferritin level will help inform if you have a healthy amount of iron stored in your body. A lower than normal blood ferritin level may indicate that you might have an iron deficiency and as a result could become anemic, if left untreated. A higher than normal ferritin level may be due to other health conditions.

     

    If you receive an abnormal result, consult with your healthcare provider to determine next steps.  

  • Ferritin is a protein found in the blood that stores iron and releases it when the body needs it. Iron is a mineral present in red blood cells that carries oxygen. By taking a ferritin test, you can determine if your body is storing a healthy amount of iron.

  • Symptoms of low levels of ferritin and iron in your body (iron deficiency anemia) include4:

    • Paler-than-usual skin
    • Fatigue
    • Weakness
    • Dizziness
    • Shortness of breath
    • Rapid heartbeat

  • Your testing will be performed in a CLIA-certified clinical laboratory. Labcorp provides leading-edge medical laboratory tests and services through a national network of primary clinical laboratories and specialty testing laboratories. Our labs perform regular quality assurance testing to ensure our results are accurate.

  • Your results will be provided to you through our secure online portal to view or print. Results are also made available through a secure portal to the independent healthcare provider who placed your test order.  If you are accessing your results through your Labcorp Patient™ account, all users linked to the account will have access to all OnDemand test results. Results may also be provided to a local, state, and/or federal health authority; for example, many states require the testing laboratory and physician to report test results for certain communicable diseases, such as COVID-19, to local or state health departments.  

     

    If you have questions or comments regarding the Labcorp Notice of Privacy Practices, or have a complaint about our use or disclosure of your PHI or our privacy practices, please contact: privacyofficer@labcorp.com, call us at (877) 234-4722 (877-23-HIPAA) and ask for the Labcorp HIPAA Privacy Officer, or send a written request to: HIPAA Privacy Officer, Labcorp, 531 South Spring Street, Burlington, NC 27215. You also may file a complaint with the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  • Visit the Labcorp OnDemand® website to browse and purchase laboratory tests and create your Labcorp Patient™ account to view your results. All Labcorp OnDemand testing requires an order from an authorized healthcare professional. For your convenience, Labcorp OnDemand has contracted with independent professional entities (collectively, Providers) to deliver healthcare provider services. Visit a Labcorp location for sample collection; or, if using an at-home collection kit, collect your sample yourself. We’ll let you know when your results are ready and can be accessed through your Labcorp Patient™ account.

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