Ferritin Test in New Town, Kolkata
At Pure Bliss Healthcare Centre, Action Area 2, New Town.
What the Ferritin Test measures
Ferritin is the protein that stores iron inside your cells, and measuring it is the most direct way to judge how much iron your body actually has in reserve. It falls before haemoglobin does, so a low ferritin can identify iron deficiency months before anaemia shows up on a blood count — which matters, because the early symptoms are the easily dismissed ones: tiredness, breathlessness on stairs, hair fall, brittle nails, poor concentration, restless legs at night. Iron deficiency is very common in menstruating women, in pregnancy, in vegetarian diets, and in anyone with slow gastrointestinal blood loss. Ferritin is also used in the other direction, to look for iron overload. The important caveat is that ferritin is an acute-phase reactant: infection, inflammation, liver disease and some cancers push it up regardless of iron stores, so a normal or high ferritin in someone who is unwell does not rule out deficiency. That is why it is often ordered together with CRP or a full iron studies panel.
Who this test is for
- Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, hair fall or brittle nails
- Heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, or planning a pregnancy
- Vegetarian or vegan diets, and growing adolescents
- Confirming iron deficiency before starting supplements, and checking the response afterwards
How to prepare, and when to expect the report
Preparation
A morning sample is preferred. Stop oral iron supplements for 24 to 48 hours beforehand unless your doctor has told you to continue, since a recent dose can lift the reading. Mention any current infection or inflammatory illness, as both raise ferritin independently of iron stores.
Reporting time
Within 24 hours.
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Ferritin Test — common questions
Booking, preparation and reporting for the Ferritin Test at Action Area 2, New Town.
Can my ferritin be normal even though I am iron deficient?
Yes. Ferritin rises with infection, inflammation and liver disease, which can mask a genuine deficiency. If you are unwell or have a chronic inflammatory condition, your doctor may add a CRP or a full iron studies panel to interpret it correctly.
Should I stop my iron tablets before the test?
Usually yes, for 24 to 48 hours, unless your doctor has asked otherwise. Testing while taking supplements measures the tablet as much as your stores.
Is ferritin the same as a haemoglobin test?
No. Haemoglobin shows whether you are anaemic now; ferritin shows the size of your iron reserve. Ferritin falls first, so it catches deficiency earlier.
How soon after starting treatment should I retest?
Ferritin is usually rechecked around three months after starting iron replacement, though your doctor may want a haemoglobin sooner to confirm you are responding.