What Ferritin Actually Measures
Ferritin is the protein your body uses to store iron. A small, steady amount also circulates in your blood, and that level closely mirrors how much iron you have in reserve — which is why a ferritin blood test is the single best measure of your body's iron stores. When your reserves run low, ferritin falls; when iron builds up, ferritin rises.
Ferritin is usually ordered as part of iron studies (alongside serum iron, transferrin and transferrin saturation), and often follows an abnormal full blood count (FBC) that hints at an iron problem.
How Ferritin Is Reported in Australia
Australian labs report ferritin in micrograms per litre (µg/L) — numerically the same as the ng/mL you may see internationally. There is no single national reference interval; each lab sets its own, and the figure printed next to your result is the one that matters.
Normal Ferritin Range
| Group | Typical ferritin reference range (µg/L) |
|---|---|
| Adult men | ~30–300 |
| Women (pre-menopause) | ~15–200 |
| Women (post-menopause) | ~30–300 |
Women of reproductive age sit lower on average because of monthly menstrual blood loss. One important nuance: many Australian GPs treat a ferritin below about 30 µg/L as iron deficient even when it is technically "within range", because symptoms often appear well before ferritin falls to the very bottom of the interval.
What a Low Ferritin Means
Low ferritin means your iron stores are depleted — iron deficiency, the most common nutritional deficiency in Australia. It can cause fatigue, breathlessness on exertion, hair loss, brittle nails, restless legs and poor concentration, and it often appears before full iron-deficiency anaemia shows on your FBC. Common causes include:
- Heavy or frequent menstrual periods.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- A diet low in absorbable iron (including some plant-based diets).
- Gastrointestinal blood loss — ulcers or bowel conditions, which is why unexplained iron deficiency in men and post-menopausal women is always worth investigating.
- Malabsorption, such as undiagnosed coeliac disease.
For the difference between low iron stores and full-blown anaemia, see our guide to iron deficiency without anaemia.
What a High Ferritin Means
A high ferritin is trickier, because it is not always iron overload. The causes split into two groups:
- True iron overload — most often hereditary haemochromatosis, a genetic condition that is relatively common in Australians of northern European descent, or repeated blood transfusions.
- Ferritin as an "acute-phase reactant" — ferritin rises with inflammation, infection, liver disease, heavy alcohol use, fatty liver and metabolic syndrome, and some cancers, completely independent of how much iron you have.
This is why a high ferritin is read alongside transferrin saturation and a marker of inflammation such as CRP. High ferritin with a high transferrin saturation points toward iron overload; high ferritin with a normal saturation more often reflects inflammation. A persistently high, unexplained ferritin should be followed up with your GP, who may arrange haemochromatosis (HFE gene) testing.
When You Need a Ferritin Test
- You have symptoms of iron deficiency, or your FBC suggests an iron problem.
- You are pregnant, have heavy periods, donate blood regularly, or follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
- You have a family history of haemochromatosis or previously high iron.
- You are monitoring the response to iron treatment.
Will Medicare Cover a Ferritin Test?
Yes, when there is a clinical reason and a GP referral. Ferritin is usually requested as part of iron studies, which Australian pathology providers bulk-bill in most cases, so you typically pay nothing out of pocket. Tests you request yourself without a referral may attract a fee.
How to Track Your Ferritin Over Time
Ferritin responds slowly to treatment — iron stores can take months to rebuild — so the trend across several tests tells you far more than any single reading. Charting ferritin alongside your FBC is the clearest way to see whether iron treatment is working or whether stores are drifting down again. You can keep every result in one place with BloodTrack.
This guide is general information for an Australian audience and is not a substitute for personal medical advice. Reference ranges vary between laboratories — always read your result against your own lab's printed range, and discuss any abnormal result with your GP.