Is Ferritin level needed if FBC done ?

[alchemilla12]

how important/ informative is it to have ferritin levels checked if a full blood count is done anyway and there is no evidence or suggestion of anaemia ? what " extra " information does a ferritin reading give ( I understand what it is but just wondered if it adds more to the picture ....)

thanks

[ITYFIALMCTT]

It depends, which I know is unsatisfactory.

In general, if you're using it in conjunction with an FBC, it might not be essential (depending on the FBC and other results): labtestsonline.org.uk/under...

However, in the context of hypothyroid patients, then it's useful to know someone's ferritin level. It's regularly seen that people seem to be able to make more effective use of thyroid hormones (their own or prescribed ones) if their vitamins and minerals are in optimal rather than just within the reference ranges. E.g., for ferritin, SeasideSusie mentions a level of at least 70 as helpful for hypothyroid people.

[bluebug]

Agree it depends.

If you have never had problems with iron deficiency anaemia/iron overload, have had your ferritin level checked previously, have no signs and symptoms, and it is a repeat test then no it doesn't need to be done.

If you have never been tested properly - most of the time it is never done - so don't know if you have iron deficiency/iron overload problems then you should have it done.

If you have a history or ever been found to be iron deficient/iron overload then you have it done.

Lots of thyroid patients particularly if they are female have depleted iron stores and the FBC won't show this. Plus as I mentioned there are people who suffer from iron overload and they really need to be tested regularly so they can work out how to to stop further damage.