Fasting Required: No Specimen: Blood Results: 2 Business days Description: Composed of iron and protein, Ferritin is a storehouse for iron in the body. The ferritin test is ordered to assess a person's iron stores in the body. The test is sometimes ordered along with an iron test and a TIBC to detect the presence and severity of iron deficiency or iron overload. In the early stages of anemia, the iron levels may be normal but the stored iron is being depleted and the ferritin level decreases. In iron overload, the ferritin level increases. Methodology Immunoassay (IA) Limitations Liver dysfunction and other factors can cause a reduction in the clearance of serum ferritin resulting in an increase in serum ferritin levels. Ferritin is an acute phase reactant that may be elevated in a wide-range of inflammatory conditions and infections. Clinical studies suggest the sensitivity may be 35-48% and specificity of 75-78% to detect iron deficiency. Clinical Significance Useful in the diagnosis of hypochromic, microcytic anemias. Decreased in iron deficiency anemia and increased in iron overload.