Ferritin

This test measures ferritin, a protein that stores iron in your body. Ferritin helps estimate your iron reserves and can identify low iron stores before anemia develops. Testing may help investigate fatigue, weakness, or suspected iron deficiency, as well as monitor treatment or evaluate possible iron overload. Low ferritin usually indicates depleted iron stores. High ferritin does not always mean you have too much iron—it can also rise with inflammation, infection, liver disease, and other conditions. Because inflammation can raise ferritin, a normal or elevated result does not always rule out iron deficiency.