Mediki
Ferritin blood test: what your result means
Ferritin measures stored iron in the body. It is one of the most useful markers of iron reserves.
- Category
- Iron status
- Standard unit
- nmol/L
- Reported in
- nmol/L, pmol/L, µg/L, ng/mL, µg/dL, µg/100mL and more
What does high ferritin mean?
Higher values may suggest increased iron stores or inflammation-related elevation. What counts as high depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
What does low ferritin mean?
Lower values may suggest depleted iron stores. What counts as low depends on the reference range printed on your lab report, because ranges differ between laboratories.
Ferritin units and conversion
Mediki shows ferritin in nmol/L. Labs may report it in other units; Mediki converts them automatically so results from different labs line up on one chart.
| Unit on your report | Convert to nmol/L | Convert back |
|---|---|---|
| pmol/L | 1 pmol/L = 0.001 nmol/L | 1 nmol/L = 1,000 pmol/L |
| µg/L, ng/mL | 1 µg/L = 0.002247 nmol/L | 1 nmol/L = 445 µg/L |
| µg/dL, µg/100mL, µg% | 1 µg/dL = 0.02247 nmol/L | 1 nmol/L = 44.5 µg/dL |
Convert a value from your report with the blood test unit converter.
Why track ferritin over time?
A single ferritin result is a snapshot. Comparing it with your earlier tests shows whether a value is stable, slowly drifting, or responding to a change in treatment or lifestyle, which is often more useful than one number on its own.
Read our guide on how to read blood test results to understand reference ranges, flags and units.
Following ferritin as part of a panel? See the ferritin and iron tracker.
Track your ferritin results in one chart
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Medical disclaimer: This page is general information, not medical advice. Reference ranges differ between laboratories, and only a doctor can interpret your results in the context of your health.