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Ferritin Test

Ferritin Test

January 21, 2026
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Do I need a Ferritin test?

Feeling exhausted no matter how much you sleep, noticing your hair thinning, or struggling with brain fog that won't lift?

Ferritin measures your body's iron stores, revealing whether low levels are draining your energy and affecting everything from your focus to your physical stamina.

Testing your ferritin gives you a quick snapshot of what's happening beneath the surface, empowering you to address the root cause of your fatigue and restore your vitality with targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes.

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Get tested with Superpower

If you’ve been postponing blood testing for years or feel frustrated by doctor appointments and limited lab panels, you are not alone. Standard healthcare is often reactive, focusing on testing only after symptoms appear or leaving patients in the dark.

Superpower flips that approach. We give you full insight into your body with over 100 biomarkers, personalized action plans, long-term tracking, and answers to your questions, so you can stay ahead of any health issues.

With physician-reviewed results, CLIA-certified labs, and the option for at-home blood draws, Superpower is designed for people who want clarity, convenience, and real accountability - all in one place.

Key benefits of Ferritin testing

  • Reveals your body's iron stores to catch deficiency or overload early.
  • Spots hidden iron deficiency even when hemoglobin looks normal.
  • Explains fatigue, weakness, hair loss, or restless legs tied to low iron.
  • Guides iron supplementation timing and dosing to restore healthy levels safely.
  • Flags iron overload conditions that can silently damage organs over time.
  • Supports preconception and pregnancy health by optimizing iron before conception.
  • Tracks treatment progress to confirm your iron stores are rebuilding effectively.
  • Best interpreted with complete blood count and your symptoms for full context.

What is Ferritin?

Ferritin is your body's main storage protein for iron. It's found inside cells throughout your body, especially in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and skeletal muscle. Each ferritin molecule can hold thousands of iron atoms in a safe, non-toxic form.

Iron's cellular vault

When you absorb iron from food, your body doesn't let it float freely in the bloodstream - that would cause damage. Instead, cells package it inside ferritin for safekeeping. A small amount of ferritin circulates in your blood, and that level reflects how much iron is stored in your tissues.

A window into your iron reserves

Measuring ferritin gives doctors a reliable snapshot of your total body iron stores. Low ferritin signals depleted reserves, often before anemia develops. High ferritin can indicate iron overload, inflammation, or other metabolic conditions.

More than just an iron marker

Because ferritin also rises during inflammation and infection, it serves as an acute-phase reactant. This dual role makes it useful beyond iron assessment, helping clinicians evaluate immune activation and systemic stress.

Why is Ferritin important?

Ferritin is your body's primary iron storage protein, acting as a reservoir that releases iron when your tissues need it for oxygen transport, energy production, and cellular function. It reflects how much iron is tucked away in your liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Measuring ferritin helps distinguish between true iron deficiency and other causes of anemia, and it can also signal iron overload or hidden inflammation.

When your iron tank runs dry

Low ferritin means your iron stores are depleted, even before anemia appears on a standard blood count. You may feel profoundly fatigued, notice hair thinning, struggle with concentration, or experience restless legs at night. Women of reproductive age are especially vulnerable due to menstrual blood loss, and athletes can deplete stores through repetitive impact and increased red cell turnover.

When iron accumulates beyond need

Elevated ferritin can indicate iron overload disorders like hemochromatosis, where excess iron deposits in the liver, heart, and pancreas, raising the risk of cirrhosis, heart failure, and diabetes. But ferritin also rises during inflammation, infection, or chronic disease, acting as an acute-phase reactant that doesn't always reflect true iron status.

The bigger metabolic picture

Ferritin sits at the crossroads of oxygen delivery, immune function, and metabolic health. Chronically low levels impair thyroid hormone activation and neurotransmitter synthesis. Persistently high levels, especially with elevated iron saturation, warrant investigation for genetic iron disorders or systemic inflammation that silently damages organs over years.

What do my Ferritin results mean?

Low ferritin usually reflects depleted iron stores

Low values usually reflect depleted iron stores, the body's reserve supply of iron held primarily in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. This depletion occurs before anemia develops and signals that the body is drawing down its reserves to maintain red blood cell production and other iron-dependent processes. Common causes include inadequate dietary intake, poor absorption from the gut, chronic blood loss, or increased demand during pregnancy and rapid growth. Women of reproductive age are particularly vulnerable due to menstrual blood loss. Low ferritin impairs oxygen delivery, energy production in mitochondria, and immune function, often causing fatigue, weakness, and reduced exercise tolerance.

Being in range suggests adequate iron reserves

Being in range suggests adequate iron reserves to support red blood cell formation, oxygen transport, and cellular energy metabolism. Optimal ferritin levels tend to sit in the mid to upper portion of the reference range, supporting stable hemoglobin production and metabolic efficiency without excess storage.

High ferritin usually reflects inflammation or iron overload

High values usually reflect either acute or chronic inflammation, where ferritin rises as an acute phase reactant, or true iron overload from genetic conditions like hemochromatosis, repeated transfusions, or excessive supplementation. Elevated ferritin can also accompany liver disease, metabolic syndrome, and certain malignancies.

Context matters for interpretation

Ferritin interpretation requires clinical context. Inflammation from infection, autoimmune disease, or tissue injury can elevate ferritin even when iron stores are low, masking deficiency.

Method: FDA-cleared clinical laboratory assay performed in CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratories. Used to aid clinician-directed evaluation and monitoring. Not a stand-alone diagnosis.

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Similar biomarker tests from Superpower

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Frequently Asked Questions

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How it works
What should I expect during a blood draw?
  • A trained phlebotomist will guide you through the process.
  • A tourniquet is placed on your arm, the site is cleaned, and a small needle is used to collect blood into one or more tubes.
  • Results are usually ready in about a week.
  • Most people feel only a quick pinch.
  • The needle is removed, gentle pressure is applied, and a bandage is placed.
How do I prepare for a blood draw?
  • Drink plenty of water beforehand — hydration makes veins easier to find.
  • Wear loose sleeves so your arm is easy to access.
  • Follow any fasting instructions you’ve been given.
  • Let us know if you’re on medications, have fainted before, or have needle anxiety.
What should I do after my blood draw?
  • Press gently on the site for a few minutes.
  • Keep the bandage on for 4-6 hours.
  • Skip heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for the rest of the day.
  • Drink extra water to rehydrate.
  • Monitor the site for redness, swelling, or pain.
How do I book a blood draw with Superpower?

Your membership includes:

  • An annual full body test and report across 100+ biomarkers
  • A personalized action plan to optimize your biomarkers and reach your health goals
  • A dashboard to centralize your health data and track changes across a lifetime
  • Access to a health concierge for questions on your plan and help scheduling
  • Plus a marketplace of curated health products and services cheaper than amazon

Many concierge clinics charge $10k – $100k for their services, we’ve built technology to make the world’s best healthcare as accessible as possible via an all-in-one membership.

Where can I take my blood test?

Superpower is currently available in the following US states:

  • Alabama
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Our testing
Does Superpower replace my primary care provider?

Superpower specializes in prevention-based testing and treatments and is not intended for emergency or immediate health issues.

While you will have a Superpower care team, your annual membership is designed to complement a primary care doctor if you have one, not replace them.

We are happy to help you share any test results with an outside provider to ensure you receive well-rounded medical care.

How fast are blood test results and how do I read them?

Your annual lab test panel takes about a week to process. We will text you as soon as they become available in your dashboard. Other types of tests may have different testing windows. The Superpower concierge is your own health assistant who helps answer your questions on your results, ensure smooth scheduling, coordination of any office-based tests, specialist referrals as needed, and navigating you to interface with your care team.

Does Superpower accept health insurance?

Superpower membership and products are all eligible for HSA/FSA funding.

We see Superpower like a gym membership for those committed to prevention and performance. Superpower is a bridge between wellness and healthcare. Health insurance traditionally focuses on reactive care whereas, at Superpower, we believe it’s never too early to start looking out for your long-term health.

What if I want more than 1 blood test per year?

Absolutely — you're not limited to just one. Your membership includes one comprehensive 100+ biomarker blood test each year, but if you'd like to track your progress more closely, you can add extra tests at any time. Each additional full-panel test costs $179. You can order as many as you'd like throughout the year.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ferritin Test

What is ferritin and how does it show your body’s iron stores?

Ferritin is your body’s main iron storage protein, found inside cells in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and muscle. It acts like a safe container that holds iron and releases it when your body needs it. A small amount circulates in the blood, and blood ferritin usually mirrors total stored iron. That’s why ferritin testing is a reliable way to assess iron reserves.

How does a ferritin blood test help detect iron deficiency even when hemoglobin is normal?

Ferritin often drops before hemoglobin changes, making it an early marker of iron deficiency. You can have “hidden” iron deficiency with normal hemoglobin and still experience symptoms like fatigue, weakness, hair thinning, restless legs, and reduced exercise tolerance. Ferritin testing reveals depleted iron stores early, helping prevent progression to iron-deficiency anemia and guiding appropriate iron supplementation.

What symptoms can low ferritin cause, like fatigue, hair loss, or restless legs?

Low ferritin signals depleted iron reserves and can reduce cellular energy production and oxygen delivery. Common symptoms include persistent fatigue, weakness, reduced stamina, brain fog or poor concentration, hair thinning, brittle nails, cold hands and feet, and restless legs (especially at night). Low ferritin may also impair thyroid hormone activation and immune resilience, potentially making you more prone to infections.

What does high ferritin mean, and is it always caused by iron overload?

High ferritin does not always mean iron overload. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant, so it can rise with inflammation, infection, tissue damage, liver disease, metabolic syndrome, alcohol use, or certain malignancies - even when iron stores are normal. Less commonly, high ferritin reflects true iron overload from hereditary hemochromatosis, repeated transfusions, or excessive iron supplementation. Persistent elevation should be evaluated in clinical context.

What is the normal ferritin range and what ferritin level is considered optimal?

Typical ferritin reference ranges are often about 30–300 ng/mL, but “optimal” levels commonly sit in the middle zone - adequate reserves without excess. Many people feel best when ferritin is stable and not near the low end, particularly women and active individuals. Because ranges vary by lab and ferritin can rise with inflammation, interpreting results alongside symptoms and other labs is important.

How should ferritin results be interpreted with a complete blood count (CBC) and symptoms?

Ferritin is most useful when combined with a complete blood count (CBC) and your symptoms. Low ferritin can appear before anemia shows up on CBC, while high ferritin may reflect inflammation rather than iron overload. Pairing ferritin with clinical context helps distinguish depleted iron stores from inflammatory elevation, explains symptoms like fatigue or weakness, and supports safer decisions about iron supplementation and follow-up testing.

How does ferritin affect fertility, ovulation, and conception in women?

Ferritin reflects iron reserves that support energy metabolism, hormone function, and overall reproductive health. Low ferritin can contribute to fatigue and may impair ovulation and conception, which is why ferritin testing can help protect fertility by identifying low iron early. Women of reproductive age are at higher risk for low ferritin due to menstrual blood loss, making proactive testing especially relevant.

Why does ferritin naturally decline during pregnancy, and how should it be monitored?

Ferritin commonly declines in pregnancy as maternal iron is transferred to support fetal growth and development. Tracking ferritin trends during pregnancy helps ensure adequate iron stores for both maternal health and fetal needs, including fetal brain development. Because low ferritin can occur before anemia develops, monitoring can help guide timely dietary strategies or supplementation under medical supervision.

Why can ferritin be high during infection, inflammation, or liver disease even if iron is low?

Ferritin rises during inflammation, infection, and tissue damage because it acts as an acute-phase reactant - part of the body’s defense response. Liver dysfunction can also elevate ferritin. This can mask coexisting iron deficiency, meaning ferritin may appear “normal” or high even when usable iron is low. That’s why ferritin interpretation should consider illness, liver health, and other iron markers.

How can ferritin testing guide iron supplementation while avoiding iron overload?

Ferritin testing helps determine whether symptoms are linked to low iron stores and can guide supplementation to restore iron reserves and prevent anemia. It also helps avoid unnecessary iron when ferritin is already adequate or elevated, which can be harmful. Because high ferritin may reflect inflammation rather than excess iron, supplementation decisions should be based on ferritin plus other labs and symptoms to reduce the risk of overload and organ damage.

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