Also known as: Ferritin Blood Test, Iron Stores Test
The short answer
Measures your body's iron stores — the most sensitive early indicator of iron deficiency, measured from a standard blood draw. At TestWell it costs $24.99 plus a $6 lab fee, needs no fasting, and results post in 1–3 business days. Physician-authorized with no doctor's visit or insurance needed; draw at Quest or Labcorp.
Hospital Lab
$100
cash pay
Other Labs
$30
+ lab fees
TestWell
$24.99
+ $6 lab fee
Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your cells. It's the most sensitive single test for detecting iron deficiency, often becoming abnormal before other iron markers or CBC results change. Low ferritin can cause fatigue, weakness, hair loss, and difficulty concentrating even before frank anemia develops. It's also an acute phase reactant, meaning it can be elevated during inflammation or infection.
Measures iron stores. The most sensitive single test for diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia, which is widespread (especially in menstruating women and endurance athletes).
Anyone with fatigue, hair thinning, restless legs, frequent dizziness, or heavy menstrual periods. Athletes monitoring training capacity. Pre- and post-pregnancy screening. Family history of hemochromatosis.
Sample Type
Blood draw
Fasting
Not required
Results In
1–3 business days
Performed At
Quest or Labcorp
Your Ferritin results will include values for each of the 1 biomarker tested, along with reference ranges. Results are reviewed by a licensed physician before being released to your secure portal.
If any values fall outside the normal range, your report will include guidance on what that may mean and recommended next steps. You'll receive an email notification when your results are ready, typically within 1–3 business days.
Typical reference range layout
Lab reports show where your value sits relative to established reference intervals—your physician interprets this in context for you.
No fasting required, though morning fasting may improve accuracy.
The short answer
Yes when fatigue, hair loss, or iron questions are on the table. Ferritin is the most sensitive early marker of iron deficiency - it falls before a CBC turns abnormal - so it catches low iron long before full-blown anemia.
We would rather you order the right test than the most expensive one.
Ferritin is a venous blood draw at Quest or Labcorp, or an at-home mobile draw where available. No fasting is needed. Because ferritin also rises with inflammation, pairing it with [iron and TIBC](/tests/iron-and-tibc) or a [CRP](/tests/crp) helps interpret a borderline result.
The markers that matter most and what an out-of-range value can mean. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex.
| Marker | Typical range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ferritin | ~30-400 (men) / ~15-150 (women) ng/mL | Under ~30 ng/mL strongly suggests iron deficiency even without anemia; high levels can mean inflammation, liver issues, or iron overload. |
This section medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD — updated June 2026. General health information, not medical advice; interpret results with a qualified clinician.
A Ferritin test costs $24.99 at TestWell — $30.99 all-in when ordered alone, because the $6 lab processing fee is charged once per order, with no draw fee or physician fee added. Ordered directly from the labs' own consumer sites, the same test lists at $59.00 at Labcorp OnDemand (list prices checked Sep 12, 2026). Hospital outpatient labs typically bill around $100.00 self-pay for the same test, and often more. With insurance, what you pay depends on your deductible and your plan's negotiated rate; TestWell's price is fixed before the draw and is HSA/FSA-eligible.
| Where you order | Price | One test, all-in | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TestWell (drawn at Quest or Labcorp) | $24.99 | $30.99 | Includes the one $6 lab processing fee, charged once per order |
| Labcorp OnDemand (Labcorp's own site) | $59.00 | $59.00 | list price checked Sep 12, 2026 |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |
47% less than the lower lab-direct list price, for the same draw at the same lab. Lab test codes: Quest test code 457 · Labcorp test no. 004598 · BioReference code 0088-5. Competitor prices are read from the linked public pages and re-checked regularly; the labs' sites may add taxes or change prices without notice.
Related guide
Blood Tests for Athletes
TestWell Price
$24.99
+ $6 lab processing fee at checkout
No insurance needed · HIPAA compliant
Better value: the Baseline Anemia Panel
Save $56.96This test is part of the Baseline Anemia Panel — 5 tests · 20 biomarkers for $74.99, $56.96 less than à la carte.
$74.99$131.95
5 tests · 20 biomarkers
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Ferritin
$24.99