What are low ferritin levels?

Generally, guidance uses the lower limit of 20ug/L as the cut off for an abnormally low ferritin level. At Forth we like to go a little beyond the ‘normal’ to ensure health is optimised. If you speak to many doctors who deal with problems caused by low ferritin (Dermatologists, Sleep Consultants, Sports Medicine Doctors) the recommendation would be to try and achieve a level of around 100ug/L for optimal function. Due to the complexity and ubiquity of iron in multiple biological systems this higher level means that your body has an adequate supply of iron for all its needs.

How to increase ferritin levels?

A once daily iron supplement can be useful whilst endeavouring to increase the iron content of your diet (red meat, leafy green vegetables). If you elect to take an iron supplement then make sure you take it with a citrus fruit juice on an empty stomach to maximise absorption.

How to reduce high ferritin levels?

The first step is to understand why your ferritin levels are high, to make sure you take the right steps. You may need to change lifestyle factors such as diet and alcohol consumption.

What foods are high in iron?

There are two types of dietary iron: heme iron, found in animal products, and non-heme iron, found in plant and fortified foods. Sources of heme iron include red meat, poultry and fish. Sources of non-heme iron include legumes, beans, fortified foods and leafy green vegetables.

How much iron should I have a day?

The UK government recommends a daily iron intake of 4.7mg for male adults and 8mg for female adults[1]. However, women with heavier periods may need more iron. The maximum amount of iron that your body can absorb is around 60mg of elemental iron per day. Any more than this and your Hepcidin starts to inhibit iron transport across your gut wall.

How soon with the test arrive?

If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day. All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.

Can I have someone take my blood for me?

Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service. A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample. The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.

Does a doctor review my results?

We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.

Can I download the results to share with my GP?

Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.

Get a £5 voucher for you or to pass on when you order this test today.

Ferritin Blood Test

Name: Ferritin Blood Test
Brand: Forth
Price: 40 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.2 (1168 reviews)

Feel tired and low on energy? Our ferritin blood test will help identify whether iron deficiency could be the cause. It measures the amount of iron stored in the body which is a good indicator of iron deficiency anaemia that causes fatigued or low energy.

£40

+ £5 Voucher when you order today

Certified for quality & security

Did you know?

3% of men and 8% of women have iron deficiency anaemia

NICE: Anaemia - iron deficiency: How common is it?

What is ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein that contains iron and is the primary form of iron stored inside of all cells. In most cases it’s a good indicator of your global iron levels. Iron is important for functions beyond red blood cell production, it’s implicated in sleep quality, immune function and even thyroid function so you may find some benefits to increasing your levels. In the event of increased activation of your white blood cells, ferritin can be released into the blood stream so we often use it as a surrogate marker for inflammation.

What does a ferritin blood test check?

If you are feeling tired or fatigued then you could be low on iron. Ferritin is the best way to check for iron deficiency as it gives an accurate measurement of the amount of iron stored in the body.

How to check ferritin levels at home

You can check your ferritin and iron levels at home with our finger prick blood test kit. The kit includes everything you need to collect a small blood sample, including lancets, tubes, plasters and free return postage to send us your sample. The test only takes a couple of minutes to complete and once the results are at our lab, you’ll receive your results within 2 working days, along with comments from our doctors.

Frequently asked questions

This is what our customers ask us most about this test. For more information, try our help centre.

What are low ferritin levels?

Generally, guidance uses the lower limit of 20ug/L as the cut off for an abnormally low ferritin level. At Forth we like to go a little beyond the ‘normal’ to ensure health is optimised. If you speak to many doctors who deal with problems caused by low ferritin (Dermatologists, Sleep Consultants, Sports Medicine Doctors) the recommendation would be to try and achieve a level of around 100ug/L for optimal function. Due to the complexity and ubiquity of iron in multiple biological systems this higher level means that your body has an adequate supply of iron for all its needs.
How to increase ferritin levels?

A once daily iron supplement can be useful whilst endeavouring to increase the iron content of your diet (red meat, leafy green vegetables). If you elect to take an iron supplement then make sure you take it with a citrus fruit juice on an empty stomach to maximise absorption.
How to reduce high ferritin levels?

The first step is to understand why your ferritin levels are high, to make sure you take the right steps. You may need to change lifestyle factors such as diet and alcohol consumption.
What foods are high in iron?

There are two types of dietary iron: heme iron, found in animal products, and non-heme iron, found in plant and fortified foods.

Sources of heme iron include red meat, poultry and fish. Sources of non-heme iron include legumes, beans, fortified foods and leafy green vegetables.
How much iron should I have a day?

The UK government recommends a daily iron intake of 4.7mg for male adults and 8mg for female adults^[1]. However, women with heavier periods may need more iron. The maximum amount of iron that your body can absorb is around 60mg of elemental iron per day. Any more than this and your Hepcidin starts to inhibit iron transport across your gut wall.

^[1]Department of Health: Dietary Reference Guidelines
How soon with the test arrive?

If you order your test before midday on a Monday to Friday then your kit will be dispatched the same day.

All our kits are sent out via Royal Mail first class post, so it should be with you within 1-2 working days.
Can I have someone take my blood for me?

Yes. We offer two options if you do not want to do our finger prick test. The first is a home appointment where a nurse comes to your home to take a blood sample. The second is to visit a Phlebotomy clinic near you that offers a blood sample service.

A blood sample will be taken from your vein and we will provide you with everything you need to give to the nurse to allow them to take the sample.

The nurse will give you the blood sample to return to us using the pre-paid envelope provided.
Does a doctor review my results?

We have a team of doctors and nurses who look at all results and will comment on any results that are outside of the normal range for your age.
Can I download the results to share with my GP?

Yes, you can download your results from your health dashboard as a PDF to share with your GP.

Learn how to export your results.

We are dedicated to supporting you on improving your health

Recommended by doctors

Dr Thom Phillips

Clinical Lead

BSc. (Hons) MSc. MB BCh. MRCGP. Dip SEM. PGCert (Diabetes)

Renee McGregor

Nutrition Lead

BSc (hons) PGDIP (DIET) PGCERT(sportsnutr) RD BASES

Dr Michael Cornes

Scientific Officer

Consultant clinical scientist, FRCPath, BSc Biochemistry, MSc Clinical Biochemistry, PhD Biochemistry

"Elevated ferritin levels can be indicative of inflammation and have been linked to high blood pressure and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). In contrast, low levels can indicate iron deficiency, which can lead to anaemia as well as reducing sleep quality, immune function and even thyroid function."

Dr Thom Phillips

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I wanted to get more information about my own health instead of using the NHS who just test for a specific reason. I also wanted better historical data to view changes over time as the NHS systems aren’t very good for that.

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How it works

Getting the insights you need to improve your health has never been easier.

1. Choose your blood test

No need to wait for a GP appointment, choose from our wide range of tests which come with everything you need to take your sample and return to our lab.

2. Collect your sample

Take your finger prick blood sample at home, or choose to have your blood taken at a Superdrug health clinic or a nurse at home. Return to our NHS lab using our prepaid envelope.