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Ferritin & Iron Studies

Ferritin is the body's main iron storage protein and the single best test for iron deficiency. Iron studies together help diagnose anaemia type and iron overload conditions like haemochromatosis.1

Written by Suman Konda, Clinical Pharmacist · Based on peer-reviewed sources · Editorial policy · Not medical advice

Last reviewed and updated: · How we check our content

Ferritin normal (women)
11–307 ng/mL
Ferritin normal (men)
24–336 ng/mL
Iron deficiency
Ferritin <15 µg/L
Haemochromatosis
Ferritin often >1000 µg/L

Quick answer

The ferritin test normal range on most lab reports is roughly 24–336 ng/mL for men and 11–307 ng/mL for women. Below 15 ng/mL means iron stores are empty and iron deficiency is very likely. Because ferritin also rises with inflammation, infection and liver disease, a ‘normal’ result does not always rule out deficiency, read it with symptoms.

Iron Panel: What Each Test Shows

TestNormal RangeRole
FerritinMen: 24–336 ng/mL; Women: 11–307 ng/mLIron stores: best single test for deficiency
Serum iron10–30 µmol/LCirculating iron level (fluctuates day-to-day)
TIBC (total iron-binding capacity)45–72 µmol/LIron-carrying capacity of transferrin
Transferrin saturation20–50%% of transferrin bound to iron
Soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR)<1.76 mg/LRises in deficiency; unaffected by inflammation
Key points
  • Ferritin is the body's main iron storage protein and the single best test for iron deficiency.
  • A result below 15 ng/mL means iron stores are empty; many clinicians treat below 30 ng/mL as deficient, since population-based ranges can hide real deficiency.
  • Because ferritin also rises with inflammation, infection and liver disease, a 'normal' result does not always rule out deficiency; read it with symptoms.
  • Rough reference ranges: 24-336 ng/mL for men, 11-307 ng/mL for women (labs vary).
  • Iron studies together (serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, ferritin) distinguish iron deficiency from anaemia of chronic disease and iron overload.
  • Symptoms of deficiency can persist at ferritin levels inside the lab range, which is why some clinicians target 50-100 ng/mL when symptoms continue.
Iron studies interpretation patternsTypical iron study patterns and the condition each suggests.Why iron tests are read as a patternNo single iron test is diagnostic on its ownSerum ironFerritinTIBCTransferrin sat.Iron deficiencyLowLowHighLowAnaemia of inflammationLowNormal / highLowLowIron deficiency + inflammationLowNormalNormalLowIron overloadHighHighLowHighNormal iron statusNormalNormalNormalNormalFerritin rises with inflammation, so a normal ferritin does not exclude iron deficiency when CRP is raised; transferrin saturation is less affected.
Scroll sideways to see the whole diagram
Iron study patterns and what each combination suggests.
What the table shows. Iron deficiency gives low iron, low ferritin, high TIBC and low transferrin saturation. Anaemia of inflammation looks similar on serum iron but ferritin is normal or high and TIBC is low, because ferritin is an acute-phase protein. The difficult case is the third row, iron deficiency occurring alongside inflammation, where ferritin can sit in the normal range while iron stores are genuinely depleted. That is why ferritin is interpreted next to CRP rather than alone.

Pattern Recognition

PatternFerritinIronTIBCDiagnosis
Iron deficiencyLowLowHighIron deficiency anaemia
Anaemia of chronic diseaseNormal/HighLowLow/NormalChronic disease, inflammation, cancer
HaemochromatosisVery highHighLowIron overload
HaemolysisHigh (acute)HighNormalRBC destruction
Ferritin Is an Acute Phase ReactantFerritin rises with inflammation, infection, or liver disease, even when iron stores are actually low. A ferritin of 80 µg/L in a patient with an active CRP of 100 mg/L may still mask iron deficiency. Check CRP alongside ferritin.
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How much does the Ferritin test cost in India?
The Ferritin test typically costs ₹600–₹1,200 in India, though prices vary by city and lab. Choose a NABL-accredited lab where possible — and remember the reference range printed on your own report is the one that counts. Discuss the result with your doctor.
What ferritin level is considered iron deficiency?
Ferritin <15 µg/L confirms iron deficiency. <30 µg/L is suggestive if symptoms are present. In inflammatory states (raised CRP), a higher ferritin threshold (up to 100 µg/L) may still reflect functional deficiency: a systematic review of 29 international guidelines found that a cut-off around 100 µg/L, alongside a transferrin saturation below 20%, is what most conditions actually use for diagnosis once inflammation is a factor.3
Why is my iron low if I eat meat?
Causes of iron deficiency despite adequate diet: blood loss (heavy periods, GI bleeding), poor absorption (coeliac disease, post-gastric surgery), or increased demand (pregnancy). Investigate the cause.
What is haemochromatosis?
A genetic condition (usually HFE gene mutations) causing excessive iron absorption and accumulation in organs: liver, heart, pancreas, joints, skin (bronze pigmentation). Treated with regular venesection (phlebotomy).
How long does it take to correct iron deficiency?
Oral iron supplementation typically raises haemoglobin within 4–8 weeks. Iron stores (ferritin) take 3–6 months to replenish. IV iron works faster and is used when oral iron is not tolerated or absorbed.
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Which ferritin threshold actually detects iron deficiency?

Laboratory reference ranges for ferritin often start as low as 15 µg/L in women, but that figure reflects statistical distribution in a population rather than the level at which iron stores are genuinely adequate.

A Cochrane systematic review (Garcia-Casal and colleagues, 2021) pooled 72 studies and examined how well ferritin identifies true iron deficiency confirmed against bone-marrow iron.2 Using a fixed threshold of 30 µg/L in people presenting for medical care, ferritin had a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 98%, meaning a result below 30 is a strong indicator of genuine deficiency.

The practical consequence: a ferritin of 20 µg/L may appear within your laboratory's "normal" range while still representing depleted iron stores, particularly if you have fatigue, hair loss or restless legs. Many clinicians treat below 30 µg/L as deficient, and use a higher target (around 50–100 µg/L) when symptoms persist.

Important caveatFerritin is also an acute-phase protein, so it rises with infection, inflammation and liver disease. A normal or high ferritin does not exclude iron deficiency in someone with an inflammatory condition, which is why CRP and transferrin saturation are often checked alongside it.

Ferritin vs serum iron vs transferrin saturation vs haemoglobin: how they compare

Ferritin is the headline iron test, but iron status is a panel, not a single number. Each test answers a different question:

TestWhat it measuresWhen it is orderedKey limitation
FerritinIron stored in the bodySuspected deficiency or overload; the first-line iron testRises with inflammation — a “normal” ferritin during illness can hide true deficiency
Serum ironIron currently travelling in bloodWith ferritin in iron studiesSwings through the day and after meals — a poor standalone marker
Transferrin saturationHow full the iron-transport protein isSorting deficiency from overload patternsCalculated, not measured — inherits the flaws of its inputs
HaemoglobinOxygen-carrying protein in red cellsDetecting anaemia itselfFalls late — iron stores empty long before anaemia appears

Ferritin plus transferrin saturation gives the clearest iron picture — haemoglobin only shows the late stage.

Reading your report: what your doctor actually looks at

When a doctor opens a ferritin result, the number itself is only the starting point. Here is the checklist they run through — and the same checklist helps you read your own report calmly:

  1. Were you ill or inflamed? Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant: infection, inflammation or even a cold pushes it up. A normal ferritin during illness can mask deficiency — CRP alongside helps unmask it.
  2. What is the trend? Ferritin rebuilding after treatment takes months; a single value mid-treatment says little. Doctors follow the direction, not the snapshot.
  3. How low is low? Single-digit ferritin with symptoms is a different situation from a borderline value — the distance from the range matters more than the flag.
  4. What about overload? Very high ferritin deserves attention too — inflammation, liver disease and iron overload (haemochromatosis) are all on the list, and they are sorted by further testing, not by the number alone.
  5. Where is the iron going? Low ferritin with no obvious cause prompts a search for blood loss — heavy periods, gut loss — because replacing iron without finding the leak misses the point.

Ferritin is a storage gauge with an inflammation problem — read it with CRP and the clinical story, and give treatment time to move it. Discuss the full picture with your doctor.

Ferritin test price in India: typical bands across major lab chains

Ferritin is often bundled into anaemia or iron-study packages, which can be better value than a standalone test. Typical list-price bands:

Lab chainTypical price bandNotes
Dr Lal PathLabsTypically &rupee;700–&rupee;1,200Wide network; online booking often slightly cheaper
Metropolis HealthcareTypically &rupee;600–&rupee;1,100Frequent online discounts
Thyrocare (via partner labs)Typically &rupee;600–&rupee;1,000Often the lowest list price; home collection available
Apollo 24|7Typically &rupee;650–&rupee;1,100Integrated with Apollo hospitals
Orange HealthTypically &rupee;700–&rupee;1,200Home-collection focused in metro cities

These are approximate bands, not quotes: prices change often and vary by city, and home collection can add a small fee. Where possible, choose a NABL-accredited lab, and remember the reference range printed on your own report is the one that counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

My ferritin is normal but I have all the symptoms of deficiency. What now?
A normal ferritin does not always rule out deficiency — inflammation or a recent infection can push it into the normal range while stores are actually low. Doctors then look at transferrin saturation, symptoms and sometimes CRP. Take the full picture, not one number, back to your doctor.
Can I test ferritin while I have a cold?
Better to wait. Even a mild infection raises ferritin for a week or two, which can hide deficiency. Unless your doctor needs it urgently, give it a couple of weeks after recovery for a truer reading.
Does donating blood lower ferritin?
Yes — each donation removes iron along with the red cells, and regular donors can run their stores down over time. Blood banks check haemoglobin, but ferritin is the earlier signal; frequent donors should discuss checking it with their doctor.
My ferritin is very high. Is that dangerous?
A very high ferritin needs medical evaluation, not self-interpretation. It can reflect inflammation, liver disease or iron overload, and the cause is found with further tests rather than the number alone. See your doctor rather than trying to lower it yourself.

Pharmacist's practical notes

Ferritin's inflammation problem is the single thing to remember: as an acute-phase reactant, it rises with any infection or inflammation, which means deficiency hides behind normal-looking numbers during illness. If your ferritin was drawn while you were unwell, mention it — and ask whether a CRP was run alongside to interpret it.

Iron supplements are poorly absorbed alongside several common medicines and foods — timing matters, so ask your pharmacist how to space them. And correcting deficiency takes months, not weeks: stopping supplements when you feel better, before stores rebuild, is the commonest reason ferritin never quite normalises.

In India

Indian labs report ferritin in ng/mL (the same as µg/L). The test typically costs &rupee;600–&rupee;1,200, though prices vary by city and lab; it is often bundled into anaemia or iron-study packages.

Where possible, choose a NABL-accredited lab. Reference ranges differ slightly between analysers, so the range printed on your own report is the one that rules.

References

Sources cited on this page. PubMed links open the original abstract.

  1. Goodnough LT, Nemeth E, Ganz T. Detection, evaluation, and management of iron-restricted erythropoiesis. Blood. 2010;116(23):4754–4761. PMID 20826717 · doi:10.1182/blood-2010-05-286260
  2. Garcia-Casal MN, Pasricha SR, Martinez RX, Lopez-Perez L, Peña-Rosas JP. Serum or plasma ferritin concentration as an index of iron deficiency and overload. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;5(5):CD011817. PMID 34028001 · doi:10.1002/14651858.CD011817.pub2
  3. Peyrin-Biroulet L, Williet N, Cacoub P. Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Iron Deficiency Across Indications: A Systematic Review. Am J Clin Nutr. 2015;102(6):1585–1594. PMID 26561626 · doi:10.3945/ajcn.114.103366
Medical Disclaimer: This page is for general education only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.
Written and medically reviewed by Suman Konda, Clinical Pharmacist · Sources linked to PubMed · Not medical advice: see our disclaimer