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What Is A Ferritin Test?
A ferritin test is a blood test that measures the amount of ferritin in your body. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your cells. Iron is an important mineral that your body needs to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in your blood.
If you have too little ferritin, you may have iron deficiency anemia. This means that there isn’t enough iron in your blood to make hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia can cause fatigue, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
If you have too much ferritin, it can be a sign of a chronic inflammation or liver disease.
Your doctor may order a ferritin test if you have symptoms of iron deficiency anemia or if they suspect you have another condition that is causing high or low levels of ferritin.
Purpose Of The Test
A ferritin test is a blood test that measures the level of ferritin in your body. Ferritin is a protein that helps store iron in your cells. Iron is a mineral that your body needs to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
If you don’t have enough iron, your body can’t make enough hemoglobin, and you may develop iron deficiency anemia. This condition can cause fatigue, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
The ferritin test is used to diagnose and monitor iron deficiency anemia and other conditions that can cause low or high levels of ferritin in the body.
Procedure For The Test
The ferritin test is a simple blood test that measures the level of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body, and a high level of ferritin can indicate that you have iron overload.
There are two ways to prepare for the ferritin test. First, your doctor may ask you to stop taking iron supplements or multivitamins for a few days before the test. Second, you should not eat or drink anything for at least four hours before the test.
When you arrive for the test, a health care professional will take a small sample of blood from a vein in your arm. The entire process only takes a few minutes and is relatively painless.
After the test, you can resume your normal activities. However, if your doctor has ordered more tests or if you have any questions about the results, be sure to follow up with them as soon as possible.
Results And What It Means
A ferritin test measures the level of ferritin in your blood. Ferritin is a protein that helps store iron in your body. Iron is a mineral that your body needs to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen in your blood.
If your ferritin level is low, it may be a sign that you have iron deficiency anemia. This means that you do not have enough iron in your body to make hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia can cause fatigue, pale skin, and shortness of breath.
If your ferritin level is high, it may be a sign of a liver disease, such as hepatitis C, or an inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis. A high ferritin level can also be caused by certain types of cancer.
The results of a ferritin test are usually available within a few days. Your doctor will interpret the results and determine if further testing is needed.
Additional Information About The Test
The ferritin test is a blood test that measures the level of ferritin in your body. Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your cells. Iron is a mineral that your body needs to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all parts of your body.
If your ferritin level is low, it may mean that you have iron deficiency anemia, which means that your body does not have enough iron to make hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
If your ferritin level is high, it may mean that you have too much iron in your body, which can be a sign of a liver disease or other condition.
A ferritin test is usually ordered along with other tests to diagnose or monitor iron deficiency anemia or another condition associated with abnormal levels of ferritin.
Read Also: Prothrombin Time Test: What Is It, And How Is It Done?
