Ferritin test at home in Dubai

Ferritin Levels. The protein that stores iron, so the amount in your blood reflects the size of your iron reserves.

Serum Iron, TIBC and % Transferrin Saturation. Measured on the same draw, these show how much iron is circulating right now and help explain an unusual ferritin result.

Your body uses its iron stores to keep haemoglobin up. As stores run down, haemoglobin stays normal for a while, so a standard blood count can look fine. Low ferritin is the earlier sign. It is linked with tiredness, breathlessness on the stairs, hair shedding, poor exercise recovery and restless legs.

Low iron stores are most common in women who menstruate, during and after pregnancy, in endurance athletes, in regular blood donors and in people who eat little red meat. Ferritin can also run high. Because it rises with inflammation, infection, liver strain and alcohol, a high result is read alongside the rest of the iron profile and inflammation markers.

• Ongoing tiredness or low stamina
• Hair shedding or brittle nails
• Breathlessness or a racing heart on light exertion
• Heavy periods
• Endurance training or regular blood donation
• Little or no red meat in your diet

• Follow the fasting instructions for the full screen. A morning draw also suits serum iron, which varies through the day.
• Tell your consultant if you take an iron supplement. Some labs suggest pausing it for a day or so before the test, so check the instructions you are given.
• A recent infection can raise ferritin for a few weeks, so mention it if you have been unwell.

Reference ranges differ between labs, and a single result is a snapshot. Your consultant reads every value against your history and the rest of the screen, not in isolation.

This test is part of Baseline’s full blood screen: 122 parameters across ten systems from one draw, for AED 850, with results in 48 hours. It is not sold as a single test, because the result means more next to everything else.

• Nurse comes to you. A licensed phlebotomist visits your home or office, 7 days a week, anywhere in the UAE.
• Accredited lab. Samples are processed by a CAP-accredited laboratory (College of American Pathologists), also accredited to ISO 15189, against clinical reference ranges.
• Reviewed with you. Results land in your account in Baseline format, and your consultant walks you through them on video, never a PDF dumped in your inbox.

Your results arrive in the Baseline app, every marker against the lab’s own range, checked by your consultant before you see them. The values above are an example.

See everything the screen covers

What is a normal ferritin level?

It depends on the lab, age and sex, so reference ranges vary. Many ranges start around 15 ng/mL, while several guidelines treat under 30 ng/mL as low stores. Your consultant reads your result against your own symptoms.

Can I have low ferritin with a normal blood count?

Yes. Iron stores usually fall before haemoglobin does, so ferritin can be low while the blood count is still in range.

Why might ferritin be high if I do not eat much iron?

Ferritin rises with inflammation, infection, liver strain and alcohol. That is why it is read alongside serum iron, transferrin saturation and inflammation markers from the same draw.

Can I book a ferritin test on its own?

No. Ferritin is part of the Iron Profile within the full home screen, measured from the same single draw.

Related tests

• Iron test
• Full blood count test
• Vitamin B12 test
• Thyroid test

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you feel unwell, or your symptoms are new or getting worse, speak to a doctor.