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Ferritin Calculator

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Enter your ferritin level and sex to check which category it falls into.

Ferritin Calculator

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Category
Normal
Reference range
12-300 ng/mL
Ferritin also rises with inflammation and infection, independent of iron status. This is informational only, not a diagnosis - discuss results with a doctor, especially alongside iron saturation.

The reference ranges

Men: Low under 12 ng/mL, Normal 12-300 ng/mL, High over 300 ng/mL Women: Low under 12 ng/mL, Normal 12-150 ng/mL, High over 150 ng/mL
Example

A reading of 80 ng/mL for a man falls in the Normal range (12-300).

Step-by-step guide

  1. Get a ferritin blood test - often ordered alongside a complete blood count when investigating fatigue or suspected anemia.
  2. Enter your result in ng/mL along with your sex, since the normal range differs substantially between men and women.
  3. Read your category. If low, ask your doctor about iron deficiency. If high, ask about iron saturation testing to distinguish true iron overload from an inflammatory elevation.

Why ferritin isn't a pure measure of iron

Ferritin measures stored iron, but it's also what's known as an "acute phase reactant" - meaning it rises non-specifically during infection, inflammation, liver disease, and certain other conditions, completely independent of how much iron you actually have. This dual nature means a high ferritin should never be read as automatic proof of iron overload without also checking iron saturation (TSAT) and considering whether inflammation could be driving the number up instead.

Common mistakes

Assuming high ferritin always means too much iron - it commonly rises during infection or inflammation with no relationship to actual iron levels. Iron saturation testing is needed to tell the two apart.
Self-treating low ferritin with high-dose iron supplements without medical guidance - excessive iron supplementation can cause gastrointestinal side effects and, over time, genuine iron overload.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the normal range so much wider for men than women?

Women lose iron regularly through menstruation, which keeps average iron stores - and therefore ferritin - lower than in men, who don't have this regular iron loss.

Can ferritin be low even if hemoglobin is normal?

Yes - ferritin measures stored iron and often drops before hemoglobin does, meaning low ferritin can be an early sign of developing iron deficiency even before anemia shows up on a standard blood count.

What does a very high ferritin (over 1,000) usually indicate?

Very high levels can reflect significant iron overload, but are also seen with severe inflammation, liver disease, or certain blood disorders - this level generally warrants prompt follow-up with a doctor rather than self-interpretation.

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