Blood count panel
Ferritin
Measured in ng/mL
What it measures
The body's stored iron.
Why it is tracked
Iron deficiency causes fatigue and hair shedding well before anaemia appears on a blood count, which makes ferritin more useful than haemoglobin alone when investigating those complaints.
What a provider considers
- An acute-phase reactant, so inflammation can raise it and mask deficiency
- Low ferritin with normal haemoglobin still warrants attention
- Central to evaluating hair loss
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and a single result rarely means much on its own. Interpretation depends on your symptoms, your other markers and the trend over time — which is what your provider reviews.