Ferritin Iron Store Interpretation
Interprets serum ferritin in the context of iron deficiency, iron overload, and inflammation. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant and must be interpreted with clinical context.
Score interpretation
Ferritin below 15 µg/L, or below 70 µg/L with infection or inflammation (WHO 2020).
→ Look for the cause (blood loss — gastrointestinal or menstrual; malabsorption such as coeliac disease; diet) and replace iron per local guidance; investigate the gastrointestinal tract where local referral criteria apply.
Ferritin is neither below the iron-deficiency cut-off nor above the overload-risk cut-off for this patient (WHO 2020).
→ If iron deficiency is still suspected with inflammation, check transferrin saturation; explore other causes of anaemia if present.
Ferritin above 150 µg/L (menstruating women) or 200 µg/L (men and non-menstruating women) when otherwise healthy, or above 500 µg/L with infection, inflammation or other disease (WHO 2020).
→ Ferritin alone does not diagnose iron overload: check transferrin saturation, CRP and liver tests and look for the cause (inflammation, liver disease, alcohol, metabolic syndrome, malignancy, transfusion, haemochromatosis). Urgent haematology review if HLH is possible.
Interpretation bands for the Ferritin Interpretation. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.
- Camaschella C. Iron-deficiency anemia. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(19):1832–1843.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Ferric Carboxymaltose (IV Iron — Pregnancy) · IV Iron Preparation — Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Pregnancy
- Iron Supplementation (Paediatric) · Iron Supplement — Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Children
- Deferoxamine (Iron/Aluminium Overload in Dialysis) · Iron/Aluminium Overload in Dialysis
- Colchicine (Pericarditis / Post-MI Inflammation) · Pericarditis / Coronary Inflammation
- Thiamine (IV/IM — Pabrinex) · Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) — deficiency treatment / Wernicke's encephalopathy prevention
- Dexamethasone · Corticosteroid — ENT Inflammation / Croup
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Anaemia Investigation · BSH / NICE
- Splenomegaly Workup · BSH; BMJ Best Practice
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis and Treatment · NICE CG144 / NICE NG158
- Sickle Cell Crisis · BSH 2021 / BCSH
- Neutropenic Sepsis · NICE CG151 2012 / ESMO
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.