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Iron Deficiency Blood Test: Ferritin, TIBC & Transferrin

See how your body stores, transports, and uses iron, the numbers behind a common cause of low energy.

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Panels from $43.96 with the current 20% promotion (regularly from $54.95); promotional pricing at time of writing.

At a glance

An iron deficiency blood test measures serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin, and ferritin, the markers that show how much iron your body has available, how it is transported, and how much is held in storage. It is designed for adults who suspect low iron may be behind their fatigue and want objective numbers to review with a doctor. These iron studies are bundled with a complete blood count, and higher tiers add B12, folate, and reticulocyte count.

Best suited for

  • Adults with ongoing fatigue or weakness who want to check iron availability and storage
  • Menstruating women, frequent blood donors, and endurance athletes at higher risk of depleted iron stores
  • People following plant-based diets who want visibility into iron, B12, and folate status
  • Anyone whose doctor has suggested monitoring ferritin or hemoglobin over time

What's included

Anemia Diagnostic Profile, Basic

4 tests covering 38 biomarkers

Anemia Health - Basic

CBC with differential and platelets, iron and TIBC, and transferrin (3 tests, 37 biomarkers)

Anemia Health - Basic Plus

Adds C-reactive protein, a comprehensive metabolic panel, and ferritin (6 tests, 60 biomarkers)

Anemia Health - Advanced

Adds folate, reticulocyte count, and a sickle cell screen (9 tests, 64 biomarkers)

Anemia Health - Comprehensive

Adds erythropoietin, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and fecal globin by immunochemistry (13 tests, 68 biomarkers)

Deep-dive the key markers: Ferritin, eGFR, ALT

Key biomarker ranges

Commonly used adult reference ranges for markers this panel measures, labs vary, so always interpret results against your lab's stated ranges and with your doctor.

Ferritin (ng/mL)

Commonly used reference ranges differ by sex, roughly 30–200 ng/mL is typical, with men’s upper bounds higher; inflammation can raise ferritin and mask low iron.

Ferritin reference ranges (ng/mL)
ZoneRange
Low0–30 ng/mL
Typical range30–200 ng/mL
Elevated200–400 ng/mL
eGFR (mL/min/1.73m²)

For eGFR, lower is worse: 90+ is consistent with full kidney function, while sustained values below 60 are the commonly used threshold of concern.

eGFR reference ranges (mL/min/1.73m²)
ZoneRange
Kidney failure range0–15 mL/min/1.73m²
Reduced15–60 mL/min/1.73m²
Mildly reduced60–90 mL/min/1.73m²
Optimal90–120 mL/min/1.73m²
ALT (U/L)

Commonly used cutoffs place ALT below roughly 30–40 U/L, with slightly lower thresholds often cited for women; recent exercise and alcohol can raise results.

ALT reference ranges (U/L)
ZoneRange
Optimal0–30 U/L
Borderline high30–50 U/L
High50–100 U/L

The importance of testing

Iron status is not one number. Serum iron shows what is circulating right now, transferrin and TIBC show your blood's capacity to transport it, and ferritin reflects the iron actually held in storage, often the first marker to drift low before red blood cell counts change. Reading these together, alongside a complete blood count with hemoglobin and hematocrit, gives a far more complete picture than any single test.

Low iron is one of the most common factors associated with anemia, and the fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and cold hands and feet that can come with it. But iron markers can also shift for other reasons, inflammation, for example, can raise ferritin even when usable iron is low, which is why the mid-tier panel pairs iron studies with C-reactive protein and a comprehensive metabolic panel for context.

These are markers worth tracking over time. If your doctor recommends dietary changes or iron supplementation, repeat testing shows whether ferritin and hemoglobin are actually trending upward. Bring flagged results to your physician rather than acting on them alone, dosing and interpretation depend on your history, and iron should never be supplemented blindly.

Part of our complete guide to Nutrient & Vitamin Lab Tests — browse every panel and biomarker guide in this hub.

Promo code

ULTAA857

Save 20% with code ULTAA857, current promotion; confirm final pricing on the partner page.

Ready to get your numbers? Order online, visit a nearby draw site, and receive private results to review with your doctor.

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Frequently asked questions

Which blood tests check for iron deficiency?

The core iron studies are serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin, and ferritin, usually run alongside a complete blood count with hemoglobin and hematocrit. Together they show circulating iron, transport capacity, storage levels, and whether red blood cell production is being affected, the pattern your doctor uses to assess iron status.

What is the difference between ferritin and serum iron?

Ferritin reflects the iron your body has in storage, while serum iron measures what is circulating in your blood at the moment of the draw. Ferritin is often the first marker to fall when stores are being depleted, which is why it appears in the Basic Plus tier and above; serum iron alone can fluctuate day to day and is best read alongside TIBC and transferrin.

Can I order iron testing without a doctor's visit?

Yes, these panels can be ordered online directly from the partner lab without a physician appointment. After checkout you visit a local draw location for the blood collection, and results come back to you to share with your own doctor for interpretation.

Is iron testing available in every US state?

No, direct-to-consumer lab testing is restricted or prohibited in New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island, so residents of those states may be blocked at the partner's checkout. Most other US residents can order online and use a nearby draw location.

Do these tests confirm iron-deficiency anemia?

No, they measure markers associated with iron status and anemia, but only a licensed clinician can make that determination. Results are a structured starting point for a conversation with your doctor, who can interpret them against your symptoms and history and decide whether therapy or further testing is warranted.

References

  1. [1] Iron-Deficiency Anemia — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  2. [2] Limitations of Serum Ferritin in Diagnosing Iron Deficiency in Inflammatory Conditions — International Journal of Chronic Diseases
  3. [3] Diagnosis of Hemochromatosis — NIDDK (NIH)
  4. [4] Dose–response relationship of serum ferritin and dietary iron intake with metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease incidence: a systematic review and meta-analysis — Frontiers in Nutrition
  5. [5] Physiology, Glomerular Filtration Rate — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  6. [6] Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) — National Kidney Foundation
  7. [7] What Is Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults? — NIDDK (NIH)
  8. [8] Is It Time for a Requiem for Creatine Supplementation-Induced Kidney Failure? A Narrative Review — Nutrients
  9. [9] Estimated GFR (eGFR) Test: Kidney Function Levels, Stages, and What to Do Next — National Kidney Foundation
  10. [10] Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) Test — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)
  11. [11] Definition & Facts of NAFLD & NASH — NIDDK (NIH)
  12. [13] Liver Function Tests — StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf (NIH)

Reviewed by

Jason August

Jason August

Founder & Editorial Lead

Jason August is the founder of Metabolic Markers and its parent company, Advancing Development. He has spent his career building and scaling real-world ventures, including as a founding team member at Build-A-Bear Workshop during its growth from startup to global public company, and since then across capital, real estate, adaptive reuse, and hospitality. He founded Metabolic Markers to make blood-biomarker testing easier to understand and access, and oversees the site’s content and editorial accuracy. Jason is not a medical professional; all content on this site is educational, reviewed for accuracy, and never a substitute for advice from a licensed physician.

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