Ferritin Levels

[Piglet1956]

Hello,

Recent blood test shows Ferritin at 118 (30 - 650 ug/L). I'm struggling to understand if that's ok as the range appears to have changed. When it was tested in September 2023 it was 112 but the range was 15-200ug/L. Is the range change significant? My brain says it makes my level lower as it changes the percentage within the range but perhaps that doesn't matter. Thanks and congratulations to those who can get their head around this.

[PinkSkittles]

Woah thats a massive range change!

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Piglet1956,

Ferritin reference intervals are difficult to understand. All too often they make little or no sense when checked.

Recently Medichecks have changed their reference intervals as here:

Females 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 180

Females 40 ≤ age < 50 30 to 207

Females 50 ≤ age < 60 30 to 264

Females Age ≥ 60 30 to 332

Males 18 ≤ age < 40 30 to 442

Males Age ≥ 40 30 to 518

helvella.blogspot.com/2024/...

While these make more sense than they used to, they still have their oddities.

Whether female or male, if you hit a magic birthday the top of reference interval suddenly rises. That is, the tops of ranges mean next to nothing in themselves.

Even if you are at the very top of the reference interval for your sex/age, no-one will do anything until the result is much, much higher - probably 100 or higher. Anything between top of your band and 1000 will just be seen and ignored in most cases.

And 30, despite representing an increase over reference intervals that start between 10 and 29, is still woefully inadequate.

Your results of 112 and 118 are probably close enough that it is within the error range for the test. I'd be pretty sure that your ferritin is fine. But if it were not fine, you'd need the other iron tests to get any further understanding what is happening.

[Piglet1956 in reply to helvella]

Thanks Helvella. I'm happy to take your word for it (sub text - I still don't understand) 🤣

[PinkSkittles in reply to Piglet1956]

Same 🤣

[SlowDragon Administrator]

once females get past menopause, ferritin levels start to rise more in line with males as no longer getting monthly blood loss