WHAT IS FERRITIN BLOOD TEST?

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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
0:56 Why it is done
1:51 Symptoms that might lead to Ferritin Blood Test
2:22 How is it done
2:40 Results
4:05 Treatment
A ferritin blood test is a simple test to measure the levels of ferritin in a person’s blood.
• Ferritin is a blood cell protein that stores iron
• Iron is very important to the way the body works. The body uses iron in metabolic processes including creating material for new cells in the body, helping cells manage energy, and carrying oxygen in red blood cells from the lungs to the rest of the body
• Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function
• Having too much or too little can cause serious health problems if not treated
• A ferritin blood test helps the doctor to understand how much iron the body is storing. This can help to find out if the body has the right amount of iron to stay healthy.
WHY IT IS DONE
• To diagnose a medical condition. The doctor may order a ferritin test if other blood tests point to possible anemia, which can result in a lack of oxygen in the blood. Doctors can also use it to diagnose restless leg syndrome, liver disease, and Still’s disease in adults. When used to make a diagnosis, a ferritin test may be done in conjunction with an iron test and total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), which measures the level of transferrin, a protein that carries ferritin around the body. These tests provide more information about the levels of iron in the body.
• To monitor a medical condition. If you have been diagnosed with hemochromatosis, a disorder that results in too much iron, a ferritin test may be used to monitor your condition and guide treatment.