Ferritin is a blood test that reflects stored iron, and it is the most useful single test for iron deficiency. Practitioners use it for fatigue, heavy periods, plant-based diets and endurance training, and with transferrin saturation to screen for overload. Ferritin is also an acute-phase protein, so infection, inflammation, liver disease or alcohol can raise it without any change in stores.
| Test type | Measured in a blood sample |
|---|---|
| Measurements required | Ferritin only |
| Sample and collection | Blood draw at a collection centre |
| Preparation | Book a morning collection and fast for 8 to 12 hours beforehand, water only. |
| Turnaround | 3 to 5 business days |
| Available through | Iron Studies, part of the Baseline Health Check. Also in: Full Body Health Check, Energy Panel, Weight Insight Panel. |
| Pricing | Included in the $99 Baseline Health Check |
| Results | Returned in the Vively practitioner platform, beside your client's other markers |
What are the Ferritin reference and optimal ranges?
| Typical lab reference | Vively optimal | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 30 to 500 µg/L | 80 to 400 µg/L |
| Women | 15 to 400 µg/L | 70 to 200 µg/L |
Labs differ, so read the result against the range printed on the client's report (RCPA guidance). The optimal range is a functional target for stores, not a cut-off for diagnosis or treatment.
Check a client's Ferritin result
Enter the value from your client's lab report to see where it sits against the typical lab range and the Vively optimal range.
A guide only, not a diagnosis. One result is a starting point: read it with symptoms, history and a repeat test. Labs differ, so check the result against the range on your client's report. Nothing you enter is stored or sent.
How do you arrange Ferritin testing through Vively?
- Get verified. Practitioners with a recognised qualification or membership (ATMS, NHAA, ANTA, Dietitians Australia, NSA, CMA or Ahpra registration) can request free practitioner access.
- Choose a panel. Log in to the practitioner platform and pick a panel that includes Ferritin, or build your own. It is included in the $99 Baseline Health Check.
- Client collects. Your client collects at a partner collection centre, with their request on their phone or printed.
- Review results. Results come back to you in the practitioner platform, beside your client's other markers, ready for the follow-up consult.
Which Vively panels include Ferritin?
Log in to the practitioner platform to view a panel in full, or build and save your own from 100+ tests and panels.
- Baseline Health Check74 markers across 11 lab groups$99
One fasting blood draw.
Full Blood CountUrea, Electrolytes & CreatinineLiver Function TestsCalcium, Phosphate & MagnesiumLipid StudiesDiabetes & Glycaemic StudiesIron StudiesThyroid Function Tests+3 moreLog in to view this panel - Log in to view this panelIron Studies5 markers · NutrientsPrice on sign-up
- Log in to view this panelEnergy Panel6 markers · NutrientsPrice on sign-up
Why does the optimal range sit there?
Our optimal range sits inside the lab range at both ends: higher at the bottom to protect stores, lower at the top to flag inflammation early.
Ferritin below 30 µg/L is diagnostic of iron deficiency in adults (RCPA; MJA 2024 update), and lab lower limits as low as 15 µg/L miss it. Our floor adds a buffer for stores above that threshold.
Ferritin above about 200 µg/L with normal transferrin saturation usually reflects inflammation, fatty liver, alcohol or insulin resistance rather than iron overload. Read it with hs-CRP and liver enzymes.
In non-anaemic menstruating women with fatigue and ferritin below 50 µg/L, iron reduced fatigue in a randomised trial (Vaucher et al., CMAJ 2012). Evidence of benefit from raising ferritin above 50 µg/L is limited.
What should Ferritin be read with?
- LowLow ferritin, normal haemoglobin
Iron deficiency without anaemia, which can cause fatigue, poor sleep, restless legs and reduced exercise tolerance before haemoglobin drops.
- ContextFerritin 30 to 100 µg/L with raised hs-CRP
Iron deficiency may still be present, because inflammation lifts ferritin; transferrin saturation helps separate the two.
- HighHigh ferritin, transferrin saturation 45% or higher
Possible iron overload such as haemochromatosis; GP review for HFE gene testing.
- HighHigh ferritin, normal saturation, raised ALT, GGT or triglycerides
Often seen with fatty liver, alcohol or insulin resistance (dysmetabolic hyperferritinaemia).
- LowLow ferritin, low MCV and low haemoglobin
Iron deficiency anaemia; the client's GP needs to find the cause.
What can affect a Ferritin result?
- Acute infection, injury, surgery or a hard endurance event (raise it for days to weeks)
- Chronic inflammation, liver disease, alcohol and metabolic syndrome (raise it independently of stores)
- A recent iron infusion overstates stores for several weeks
- Pregnancy lowers it through haemodilution and fetal demand
- Recent blood donation or heavy menstrual bleeding lowers it
When should you refer the client to their GP?
- Ferritin below 30 µg/L, so the GP can look for the cause and decide on repletion
- Iron deficiency in a man or postmenopausal woman, or with gut symptoms, for investigation of blood loss or coeliac disease
- Ferritin above 500 µg/L, or above the lab range on a repeat with no clear cause
- Raised ferritin with transferrin saturation of 45% or higher
- Low ferritin with anaemia, breathlessness, palpitations or heavy menstrual bleeding
How should a client prepare for a Ferritin test?
Copy or print this to send to your client.
Preparing for your Ferritin test
- Book a morning collection and fast for 8 to 12 hours beforehand, water only.
- Pause any over-the-counter iron supplement for 24 hours before your test. If a doctor prescribed your iron, check with them first.
- Avoid testing during or just after an acute illness, such as a cold or flu, as illness can raise ferritin.
- Take your pathology request to any of 4,000+ collection centres. Bring it printed or on your phone.
- Keep taking prescribed medicines as usual unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
- Results usually take 3 to 5 business days and come to your practitioner. Book your results appointment for after that.
How do practitioners use Ferritin with clients?
Order ferritin with transferrin saturation and hs-CRP so you can tell low stores from inflammation, and high stores from overload. Repletion decisions sit with the client's GP; your part is the dietary iron plan, absorption support and timing the retest, usually about three months after a change.
Ferritin FAQs
Should I order ferritin with CRP?
Yes. Ferritin is an acute-phase protein, so infection or inflammation can lift a deficient client into the normal range. A raised hs-CRP with ferritin of 30 to 100 µg/L means iron deficiency is still possible. The Baseline includes hs-CRP, ferritin and transferrin saturation, so the pattern is usually readable from one collection.
What ferritin level points to iron deficiency?
Below 30 µg/L in adults, according to the RCPA and the 2024 MJA update, even when the lab's lower limit is 15 µg/L. Between 30 and 50 µg/L, stores are low but not diagnostic, and symptoms or heavy periods justify a conversation with the GP. With active inflammation, ferritin up to 100 µg/L can still hide deficiency.
Can a naturopath, nutritionist or dietitian order ferritin through Vively?
Yes. Add it to a client panel on the Vively practitioner platform. It is part of Iron Studies in the $99 Baseline Health Check, and is also in Full Body Health Check, Energy Panel and Weight Insight Panel. No account yet? Request free access.
How long should I wait before retesting ferritin?
Around three months after a change in diet or absorption support is the usual interval. Retest sooner than that and you mostly measure noise, and avoid testing within days to weeks of an infection, injury, surgery or hard endurance event, because these raise ferritin independently of stores. Order hs-CRP with the repeat.
What does a high ferritin tell me?
On its own, not much, because ferritin is also an acute-phase protein. Read it with transferrin saturation: 45% or higher suggests possible iron overload and needs GP review. With normal saturation and raised ALT, GGT or triglycerides, fatty liver, alcohol or insulin resistance are more likely drivers. Ferritin above 500 µg/L warrants GP review.
References
- Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Iron Studies Standardised Reporting Protocol. 2nd edition. 2021. Source
- Medical Journal of Australia. Updating the diagnosis and management of iron deficiency in the era of routine ferritin testing. 2024;221(7). Source
- Vaucher P, Druais PL, Waldvogel S, Favrat B. Effect of iron supplementation on fatigue in nonanemic menstruating women with low ferritin: a randomized controlled trial. CMAJ. 2012. Source
- Pasricha SR, Tye-Din J, Muckenthaler MU, Swinkels DW. Iron deficiency. The Lancet. 2021.