Why Your Doctor May Ask for Ferritin Test If You Have Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency is a common problem where the body is unable to make enough red blood cells. The red pigment, called hemoglobin, plays a pivotal role in carrying oxygen to body tissues and cells. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin in the body, and its deficiency exposes the body to myriads of infections and other diseases.

In this blog, you will read what iron deficiency is, and about the ferritin test which is commonly ordered by medical practitioners to check the iron levels in the body to enable it to work in optimum condition.

What Does Iron Deficiency Mean?

Hemoglobin is an oxygen carrier that supplies oxygen to different organ cells, also removing waste products (carbon dioxide) from them. One-third of iron in the body is stored as protein in ferritin.

The importance of iron in the body cannot be overestimated. Hemoglobin production gets compromised in the event of iron deficiency, and this results in reduced oxygen levels in the blood.

Symptoms of iron deficiency include lightheadedness, fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, palpitation, pale skin, irritability, etc.

How Does The Ferritin Test Help To Determine Iron Deficiency?

Ferritin is a blood protein containing iron. It acts like a storehouse that releases iron when the body needs it. If there are lower than normal levels of iron in ferritin, then it will indicate anemia. The ferritin test is one that doctors routinely order to check iron deficiency (or even excess of it). In the event of a deficiency, it measures by how much exactly your body is lacking in iron. The doctor plans a treatment following the ferritin test result.

Low ferritin levels due to iron deficiency would mean that you do not include iron-enriched food in your daily diet. The test is useful to detect the exact cause of iron deficiency in the body. The normal serum ferritin level is 24-336 micrograms per liter for an adult male and 11-307 micrograms per liter for females.

The test is also used when the doctor suspects conditions that can result from iron depletion in your body.

What To Expect In A Ferritin Test?

The test is usually taken on an empty stomach in the morning. You may have your doctor’s instructions to observe at least 12 hours of fasting before the test.  The ferritin test is like any other routine blood test where a sample is drawn from a vein in the arm and put into a vial. The whole process takes less than five minutes.

Ferritin Test Price

A ferritin blood test cost is fairly affordable and is not so high yet in a place like India.  However, it could vary marginally between cities. Usually, in a place like Kolkata, a serum ferritin test price ranges between 300/- to 1700/-, with an average costing 692/- (INR).

Final Words

The adage “a stitch in time saves nine” cannot be more appropriate in matters of health. It is wise to consult a specialist without delay and follow their instructions to prevent the worsening of a medical condition.

AccuHealth Diagnostics is here to guarantee reliable test results with a quick delivery system. Please reach us @ www.accuhealthlabs.com for test queries or any medical assistance that you may require.