Serum ferritin level

Male: 12-300 ng/mL

Female: 12-150 ng/mL

Note: ng/ml = nanograms per milliliter

The lower the ferritin level, even within the "normal" range, the more likely it is that the patient does not have enough iron.

Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.

Any inflammatory disorder can raise the ferritin level.

Higher-than-normal ferritin levels may be due to:

• Alcoholic liver disease
• Frequent transfusion of packed red blood cells
• Hemochromatosis

Lower-than-normal levels may be due to:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Intestinal conditions that cause poor absorption of iron
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Long-term digestive tract bleeding

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Ferritin Risks

Review Date: 01/28/2010
Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Palm Beach Cancer Institute, West Palm Beach, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)