Iron and Ferritin Blood Test

Iron is an element that helps you make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around your body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, skin, nails, and hair.

Ferritin is a protein that stores and releases iron, and helps to make sure that you have the right levels of iron in your blood. If you have low ferritin levels, it usually means you have low levels of iron as well. Doctors look at both iron levels and ferritin together to check whether you have a healthy amount of iron in your body.

You get most of your iron from food, though you can also get iron supplements to help keep your iron levels healthy if you don’t get enough in your diet.

Foods that are high in iron include:

• Meat and fish
• Green veggies, like spinach, broccoli, and kale
• Legumes, like beans, peas, and lentils
• Nuts and seeds, like pumpkin seeds, cashews, and almonds

Not having enough iron or ferritin means that your body produces fewer red blood cells, and these red blood cells can’t carry as much oxygen around your body as normal.

This is called ‘iron deficiency anaemia’, which can leave you feeling weak, tired, and out of breath because your tissues and muscles aren’t getting the oxygen they need.

Low levels of iron can also cause hair loss, heart palpitations (a pounding heartbeat), and even heart failure.

For most people, having high iron levels isn’t a problem - you might just be getting a little too much in your diet, or taking iron supplements when you don’t need to.

If you have really high levels of iron for a long period of time, then you are at risk of a condition called iron overload. This is when iron levels build up in your organs and tissues, most often in the liver and heart.

Iron overload can cause you to feel weak, lose weight, and suffer from joint pain. If your iron levels are high for a long time, it can cause arthritis, liver failure, and heart failure.

Men with iron overload may also become unable to get and maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction), while women may get irregular periods.

You can get your iron and ferritin levels checked with Superdrug Online Doctor. To order your test kit, simply fill in a short questionnaire and place your order. Your kit will be sent to you by post.

Once you have received your kit, follow these steps:

• Collect a drop of blood from your finger using the lancet (pin-prick device) provided with the kit
• Place the drop of blood in the collection kit
• Use the prepaid envelope to post your sample to our partner lab
• You’ll receive the results of your folate blood test two to three days after the lab receives your kit. A Superdrug doctor will send you advice based on your results.