Ferritin
| Category | Biochemistry | ||||||||||||
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| Test background |
Iron is stored mainly in ferritin and to a lesser extent haemosiderin. Low ferritin levels typically reflect depletion secondary to chronic anaemia; conversely elevations demonstrate iron overload syndromes, such as haemochromatosis, or as sequelae of repeated transfusions. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and increases might conceivably mask an underlying state of anaemia. |
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| Clinical Indications |
Confirmation/diagnosis of anaemia (compared with red cell indices) Assessment of body iron stores Diagnosis of haemachromatosis |
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| Reference range | Reference Range
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| Sample & container required | SST (gold top) | ||||||||||||
| Sample volume | 0.5 mL | ||||||||||||
| Turnaround time | 1 day |