Ferritin

What Is Ferritin?

Ferritin is a protein that helps your body store and release iron. It is found mainly inside your body’s cells, particularly in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow, where iron reserves are held and managed.

Iron is an essential mineral needed for many vital functions, including:

Producing haemoglobin in red blood cells

Transporting oxygen around the body

Supporting energy levels, immune function, and hair growth

Ferritin plays a key role in keeping iron levels balanced. When iron levels are high, ferritin safely stores excess iron in your cells. When iron levels are low, ferritin releases iron into the bloodstream so it can be used where needed.

Because of this, a ferritin blood test is commonly used to assess the body’s iron stores and is one of the most reliable indicators of iron status.

You can find general NHS information on iron deficiency and iron testing here:
NHS: Iron deficiency anaemia
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/

What Do Ferritin Levels Indicate?

Low Ferritin

Low ferritin levels usually indicate low iron stores and are commonly associated with iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in the UK.

Low ferritin may be associated with symptoms such as:

Persistent fatigue or low energy

Weakness or shortness of breath

Pale skin

Hair thinning or increased hair shedding

Difficulty concentrating

For people concerned about hair loss, ferritin is often checked because adequate iron stores are important for normal hair growth cycles. While low ferritin does not always cause hair loss, it is frequently assessed as part of an investigation into unexplained hair thinning.

The NHS explains that iron deficiency is a common cause of anaemia and may require further investigation and treatment depending on the cause:
NHS: Iron deficiency anaemia – causes, diagnosis and treatment
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/

High Ferritin

High ferritin levels can occur for several reasons. In some cases, this may reflect iron overload, but ferritin can also rise due to:

Inflammation or infection

Liver disease

Metabolic conditions

Because ferritin can increase for reasons unrelated to iron stores, results should always be interpreted alongside other blood tests and clinical context.

What Happens If Ferritin Levels Are Abnormal?

If your ferritin level is outside the normal reference range, a healthcare professional may recommend additional blood tests to understand the underlying cause.

  • Low ferritin may lead to advice on iron intake, dietary changes, or iron supplementation, depending on individual circumstances.

  • High ferritin usually requires further investigation to identify whether iron overload or another condition is responsible.

The NHS advises that treatment decisions should be guided by a healthcare professional and tailored to the individual:
NHS: Blood tests – what they show
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/blood-tests/

Ferritin Testing and Hair Loss

Ferritin testing is commonly included when assessing people who are concerned about:

  • Hair thinning

  • Increased hair shedding

  • Long-term fatigue

While ferritin testing does not diagnose hair loss, it can help identify whether low iron stores may be a contributing factor. Results should always be discussed with a GP or qualified healthcare professional, particularly before starting supplements or making dietary changes.

Key Takeaway

  • Ferritin reflects how much iron your body has stored

  • Low ferritin suggests depleted iron stores and may be linked to symptoms such as fatigue and hair thinning

  • High ferritin can have multiple causes and requires careful interpretation

  • Ferritin results should always be reviewed with a healthcare professional

Our ferritin blood test kit can help with an insight into your ferritin levels. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How is the test performed? 

You will receive a complete blood collection kit by post. The kit contains all you need to collect blood from your finger. The components of the kit are: 

1. Instruction Sheet: Provides detailed steps on how to collect the blood sample correctly. 

2. Box: Contains all the components and is used to hold the tube while collecting blood. 

3. Lab Request Form: Needs to be filled out and included with the sample. 

4. Labels: For labeling the sample tube. 

5. Tube Pouch: A protective pouch for the sample tube. 

6. UN3733 Prepaid Mailing Bag: For sending the sample back to the lab. 

7. Lancets: Used to prick your finger for blood collection. 

8. Wipes: For cleaning your finger before and after collection. 

9. Plasters: To cover your finger after blood collection. 

10. Blood Collection Tube: for collecting the blood sample. 

These components are essential to ensure that the blood sample is collected, stored and sent correctly for accurate testing. 

Do I need to set up an account?

No, you don’t need to set up an account, but you do need to activate the sample ID before sending your blood sample to the lab.

Should I fast before collecting my blood sample? 

Please check individual test pages for details.

I couldn’t collect enough blood, what should I do? 

If you read the instruction sheet carefully and follow the steps as directed, then you should not have a problem in collecting the right amount of blood. However, if you followed all the steps and couldn’t get enough blood, i.e., to the upper line, please contact us and we will arrange to send you a fresh tube and 4 lancets (for an extra fee) and not for free). Please make sure you keep any unused elements (instruction sheet, box, lab request form, labels, tube pouch, and UN3733 prepaid mailing bag) from the kit as you will need them when you receive the new tube and lancets.

I sent my sample, and the blood wasn’t enough, and I didn’t contact London Health Company. What’s going to happen now? 

Don’t send any sample if the blood isn’t enough unless you contactedus and we told you to do so. If you sent the sample and the blood wasn’t enough, the lab will reject your sample and it won’t be processed.

After I closed the yellow tube cap, and inverted it 5-10 times gently, I noticed the waxy substance in the tube didn’t dissolve or move, is this OK? 

Yes, this is fine. When inverting the tube, the blood will mix with the waxy substance, but you won’t be able to see any difference. The waxy substance will not move or dissolve.

The yellow-top tube has waxy substance, but the purple top tube looks empty. Is it a faulty tube? 

The purple top tube is perfectly fine and should look empty.

Where do I find my sample ID?

Your sample ID is unique and should be on the small lab request slip and is highlighted. Your sample ID should always start with three letters and has no spaces.

What happens if I forgot to activate my sample ID before sending the sample to the lab? 

This will cause significant delays in reporting the sample if it arrives at the lab and is not yet activated.

What if I forgot to include the lab request slip/form with my sample? 

That shouldn’t be a big problem. You can still receive your report on time, but you need to make sure that the sample ID is activated before the sample arrives at the lab. If the lab request slip/form isn’t included and the sample ID isn’t activated, the lab will discard the sample and no refund will be issued.

I bought my test kit online, does that mean that you have my details, and I don’t need to activate my sample ID? 

You still need to activate your sample ID. By activating your sample ID, your blood sample is linked to you. Without activating your sample ID, your blood sample won’t be traced back to you.

Do I need to drop off my blood sample at the post office? 

Yes, please do so. Make sure that it’s dropped off before the last collection time; otherwise, it will stay in the post office overnight and the lab won’t get it the next day.

Why do I need to avoid posting my blood sample on Friday and weekends? 

We aim to receive your blood sample within 24 hours of blood collection. If the sample is posted on a Friday, it means that it will stay in the post for 3 days.

How long does it take for the lab to receive my sample?

Generally, samples arrive within 24 hours of posting to the lab. We use Royal Mail Tracked 24 service, but sometimes, there might be a slight delay in delivery. If the sample’s integrity was compromised by delays, we send a free replacement kit if you have the tracking number to prove the time of posting. This is if sent on Mon, Tue or Wed.

How will I know if my sample was received by the lab? 

You will receive an email notification confirming that your sample was checked into the lab.

How will I receive my results? 

Once your report is checked and ready, it will be sent to your registered email.

Why have I not received all my results? 

This is usually due to one of two reasons: 

1. Late or non-activation of the sample ID. 

2. Entering the wrong sample ID. 

Why does my report say that my sample was rejected by the lab? 

Sample rejection mainly occurs due to haemolysis, which is when the red blood cells in the blood collection tube start to break down. This impacts the lab ability to generate results for some tests. 

 

Haemolysis can happen at any stage of the process but most commonly occurs during blood collection. It often results from squeezing your finger instead of massaging the side of your hand. This only happens in a small number of cases, and we will provide a second kit free of charge. 

 

Another reason for sample rejection is when a person has been unable to collect the necessary amount of blood required to perform the testing and sends it to the lab without contacting us beforehand. 

Can I return my item for a refund?

We do offer refunds, and you do not need to send the kit back to us.

As this product is a medical device, we cannot accept returned kits. Any returned items would need to be discarded and cannot be reused or resold to other customers.

However, if you no longer need your kit or have changed your mind, we can offer a partial refund under the following conditions:

  • Please open the box and provide us with the Sample ID.
  • Once we receive the Sample ID, we will void the kit.
  • You will then receive a refund minus the kit cost of £5.

This allows us to process your refund without the need for the kit to be returned.

How do I request a return?

If you no longer need the kit, please contact our support team directly. You will need to open the box and provide the Sample ID so we can void the kit and process your refund. Please do not request a return through the website, as there is no need to send the kit back to us. Once we have the Sample ID and the kit has been voided, we can proceed with your refund.

How long does a refund take?

Refunds are processed within 10 working days.

This timeframe is required so we can locate and void any associated Sample IDs before issuing the refund.

Once this process is complete, your refund will be issued to your original payment method.

Can I change my address after I checked out?

Please note that we cannot change your address if it was entered incorrectly, as orders are dispatched automatically. Once labels are printed, it is difficult for our staff to locate and retract them.

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