Ferritin

Tube Type

Test ID

LAB68

EPIC Order

FERRITIN

CPT Code(s)

82728

Group/Individual Test

Individual

Laboratory

Core Laboratory

Tube Station

30

Specimen

Routine:

4 mL blood/green lithium heparin gel tube. Also acceptable gold SST or red plain tube

Micro:

500 µL blood/green lithium heparin-gel microtainer/gold SST-microtainer or red plain microtainer also acceptable

Stability

Spun/Separated:

Room Temperature: 8 hours
Refrigerated: 48 hours
Frozen: 1 month

Availability

Routine:

24 hrs/day

Turnaround Time

2 hrs

Reference Range(s)

Ferritin (ng/mL)

Ages

Male

Female

0-1 year

5.7-421.0

1-13 years

12.8-88.7

13-18 years

10.9-135.0

>18 years

>30 ng/mL

The likelihood of iron deficiency increases with lower ferritin concentrations, including those that overlap with laboratory normal reference intervals:

<30 Probable (or likely) iron deficiency

30-50 Possible iron deficiency

>50 Iron deficiency is less likely

However, in the setting of inflammation, infection, or in other special populations, ferritin may not reflect physiologic iron stores.

For Transgender patients or patients with gender Unknown or Unspecified, both Male and Female reference ranges will be displayed.

Comments

Pediatric Reference Range effective 7/12/2021

Adult Reference Range effective 11/25/2025

Testing is performed using Siemens Atellica Ferritin Assay. Different test methods should not be used interchangeably. Heterophilic antibodies may cause interference.

References: Use of ferritin concentration to assess iron status in individuals and populations, WHO 2023

Reviewed by J. Carr on November 24, 2025

UNC Hospitals
McLendon Clinical Laboratories
101 Manning Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27514