Serum ferritin level; Serum iron
Male: 12-300 ng/mL
Female: 12-150 ng/mL
Note: ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter
The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the patient does not have enough iron.
Any inflammatory disorder can raise the ferritin level.
Higher-than-normal ferritin levels may be due to:
Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
McPherson RA and Pincus MR. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 21st ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:78.
Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SJ, et al., eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; 2005:482.