Ferritin Test
Ferritin is the gold-standard marker for iron stores — and the marker that catches iron deficiency earliest. Includes the full Iron Studies panel for context.
One-time payment of A$75. GST included. No subscription.
What this panel measures
- Ferritin: A protein that stores iron. Reflects your long-term iron stores — moves before haemoglobin drops, which is why it's the first marker any clinician checks.
- Iron: Iron currently circulating in your blood; runs alongside ferritin to interpret in context.
- Transferrin & Saturation: The protein that carries iron and the % currently loaded — together these tell you whether transport is the bottleneck.
- TIBC: Total iron-binding capacity, completes the four-marker panel.
Who this panel is for
Have you noticed any of these:
- tired despite enough sleep
- heavy or long periods
- vegetarian, vegan or training intensely without iron-rich meals
- post-pregnancy or after blood loss
- restless legs at night or hair thinning
- previous result at the lower end of normal
How it works
- Order online, no GP referral needed.
- Visit any of 2,000+ accredited collection centres across Australia.
- Results delivered same day to your personal dashboard with clear explanations.
Sample and turnaround
Single blood draw, fasted (no food for 8 hours, water OK). Stop iron supplements 24–48 hours before testing if your doctor agrees. Results back same day.
Frequently asked questions
What's actually included when I buy this test?
Ferritin plus the three other iron markers your doctor would normally request together: Iron, Transferrin (with Saturation %) and TIBC. Same blood draw, same price — the full panel is more clinically useful than ferritin in isolation.
Why ferritin instead of just iron?
Iron in your blood bounces around with food. Ferritin reflects long-term iron stores — far more useful for picking up early deficiency.
What does low ferritin mean?
Low ferritin signals depleted iron stores, often before symptoms are severe. Many clinicians treat low ferritin earlier than the absolute lab cutoff when symptoms are present.
What does high ferritin mean?
High ferritin can reflect iron overload or inflammation. Your doctor will interpret it in context with the rest of the panel.
Keep reading
Guides
- Blood test without a GP referral — Yes — most common blood tests can be self-ordered in Australia. How direct-to-consumer pathology works, what's available, and when you should still see a GP first.
- Private blood test cost — Private blood tests in Australia range from $35 for single biomarkers up to $500+ for comprehensive panels. What you're paying for, what drives the cost, and when private testing is worth it.
Biomarkers explained
- Ferritin — Ferritin is the gold-standard marker for your iron stores — more reliable than measuring iron in your blood directly.
- Vitamin B12 — B12 is essential for nerve function and red blood cell production — and it's commonly low in vegetarians, vegans, and adults over 50.