Transferrin is the protein that carries iron through your blood to where it's needed. Your liver makes more of it when iron is running low, so a high transferrin often goes with low iron stores, as the body tries to grab every bit it can. A low result can come with inflammation, low protein intake or too much iron. The lab range is 2.0 to 3.6 g/L. Because it makes most sense next to ferritin and serum iron, you get all three in the Vively Baseline Health Check, with results in the app within a few days.
Check Transferrin alongside 70+ other markers in Vively's Baseline Health Check.
Every marker in range? Get your $99 back. T&Cs apply.Want to save 25%? Try our 4-Month Reset insteadTransferrin is a protein that transports iron through the bloodstream so your cells can use it for essential functions. It provides a more complete picture of iron movement and utilisation than intake alone.
Healthy transferrin levels help maintain energy, metabolic steadiness, and daily performance. Because it reflects how effectively your body moves iron around, it can offer early insight into nutrient balance and overall vitality.
Levels outside the optimal range may indicate your body is adjusting how it carries and regulates iron. Higher values often appear when iron availability drops, while lower values may show up when the body shifts focus due to inflammation or liver-related changes. These patterns are useful for understanding how your current lifestyle and nutrition are influencing nutrient movement.
This information is provided for general health and wellness purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
Low saturation transferrin means that a smaller proportion of transferrin is carrying iron. This can suggest reduced iron availability for energy and red blood cell production and is best interpreted alongside transferrin saturation (TSAT), ferritin, and other iron markers.
TSAT transferrin refers to transferrin saturation, which shows the percentage of transferrin bound to iron. It provides a real-time view of iron delivery and helps clarify whether iron transport is keeping up with your body’s metabolic demands.
Insulin, transferrin, and selenium are linked through metabolic and oxidative balance. Insulin sensitivity can influence iron handling, transferrin reflects iron transport, and selenium supports antioxidant enzymes that help protect cells during metabolic stress.
Carbohydrate deficient transferrin is a modified form of transferrin often used as a marker of chronic alcohol exposure. It differs from standard transferrin testing and is interpreted in a specific clinical context rather than for general iron or metabolic balance.
Among 2,334 Vively members tested in 2024 to 2026, women aged 40 to 49 had a median transferrin of 2.4 g/L (middle half 2.1 to 2.6). Men the same age: 2.4 g/L. The lab range is 2.0 to 3.6 g/L. A member median is not a target.
The line is the median member at each age. The shaded bands show where most members sit. The dashed red lines are the lab range.
| Group (g/L) | Members | Median | Middle 50% | 5th to 95th percentile | Lab range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women 18 to 29 | 131 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 1.8 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Women 30 to 39 | 411 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 1.8 to 3.1 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Women 40 to 49 | 470 | 2.4 | 2.1 to 2.6 | 1.8 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Women 50 to 59 | 310 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 1.9 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Women 60 and over | 144 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 2.0 to 2.9 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Men 18 to 29 | 122 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.7 | 2.0 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Men 30 to 39 | 279 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 1.9 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Men 40 to 49 | 270 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.7 | 1.9 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Men 50 to 59 | 126 | 2.4 | 2.2 to 2.6 | 2.0 to 3.0 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
| Men 60 and over | 71 | 2.5 | 2.2 to 2.7 | 2.0 to 3.2 | 2.0 to 3.6 |
Pick your sex and age, then type your result.
What is a normal transferrin level for my age?
Among 2,334 Vively members (first blood test, January 2024 to October 2026), the median transferrin for women was 2.4 g/L at 18 to 29, 2.4 at 30 to 39, 2.4 at 40 to 49, 2.4 at 50 to 59 and 2.4 at 60 and over. For men it was 2.4 g/L at 18 to 29, 2.4 at 30 to 39, 2.4 at 40 to 49, 2.4 at 50 to 59 and 2.5 at 60 and over.
The lab range is 2.0 to 3.6 g/L. A member median is not a target or a diagnosis. If your result is outside the range on your report, talk to your GP.
How to get it: Included in the Baseline Health Check. A GP from our network signs your request after a short telehealth consult, so you don't need to visit your own GP first. See how a blood test without a referral works.
Related tests: Ferritin, Ferritin-to-CRP ratio, Transferrin Saturation, Transferrin Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
The Baseline Health Check reads 70+ markers, then your dietitian turns your results into a plan. $99 a month, first test included.
Every marker in range? Get your $99 back. T&Cs apply.