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Results
By Mayo Clinic staffThe normal range for blood ferritin is 24 to 336 nanograms per liter for men and 11 to 307 nanograms per liter for women (standard units) or 24 to 336 micrograms per liter for men and 11 to 307 micrograms per liter (international units).
Lower than normal results
A lower than normal ferritin level indicates that you have iron deficiency. If your ferritin level is low, your doctor will likely evaluate your results in conjunction with results of an iron test and TIBC and transferrin test to confirm a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia.
Higher than normal results
A higher than normal ferritin level may indicate that you have one of the following conditions:
- 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 affect your nervous system and skin.
- Rheumatoid arthritis, adult Still's disease or another chronic inflammatory disorder
- Liver disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Type 2 diabetes
In addition, some types of cancer, particularly leukemia and Hodgkin's disease, may cause your ferritin level to rise.
Your ferritin level may also be elevated if you've had multiple blood transfusions or if you've recently had a baby. If you've been previously diagnosed with hemochromatosis, an elevated ferritin level may indicate a need to alter your treatment plan.
If your ferritin level is above normal, your doctor may need to evaluate the results along with those of other tests, or additional tests may be necessary, to determine next steps.
For specifics about what your ferritin test results mean, talk to your doctor.
- Ferritin. In: Nicoll D, et al. Pocket Guide to Diagnostic Tests. 5th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=3136438&searchStr=ferritin measurement. Accessed Jan. 4, 2009.
- Ferritin. Lab Tests Online. http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ferritin/test.html. Accessed Jan. 4, 2009.
- Ferritin. In: Gomella LG, et al. Clinician's Pocket Reference. 11th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2699841&searchStr=ferritin. Accessed Jan. 4, 2009.
- Beutler E. Iron deficiency. In: Lichtman MA, et al. Williams Hematology. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2141359&searchStr=iron+deficiency. Accessed Jan. 4, 2009.
- Laboratory reference values. Ferritin. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Dec. 2008.
