---
title: Ferritin Test
type: test
id: ferritin
url: "https://www.test-well.com/tests/ferritin"
price_usd: 24.99
lab_fee_usd: 6
all_in_usd: 30.99
cpt: 82728
category: Iron & Anemia
sample: Blood draw
fasting_required: false
results_in: "1–3 business days"
labs:
  - Quest
  - Labcorp
  - BioReference
orderable: true
reviewed_at: 2026-09-14
order_url: "https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=ferritin&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown"
---

# Ferritin Test

> 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.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Price | $24.99 + $6 lab processing fee per order ($30.99 all-in for this test alone) |
| CPT code | 82728 |
| Sample | Blood draw |
| Fasting | Not required |
| Results | 1–3 business days |
| Labs | Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, BioReference (NY & NJ) |
| Biomarkers measured | 1 |
| Physician authorization | Included — no doctor's visit, referral or insurance needed |
| Payment | Card, HSA or FSA; cash-pay only (no insurance billing) |

## What does the Ferritin test tell you?

Measures your body's iron stores — the most sensitive early indicator of iron deficiency.

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.

**Clinical use:** Measures iron stores. The most sensitive single test for diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia, which is widespread (especially in menstruating women and endurance athletes).

## Who should order it?

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.

## Biomarkers measured

- [Ferritin](https://www.test-well.com/biomarkers/ferritin)

## Price by lab

| Lab | Test price | All-in (with $6 fee) | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Quest Diagnostics | $24.99 | $30.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) |
| Labcorp | $25.99 | $31.99 | Choose at checkout; walk-in patient service centers nationwide (not NY/NJ) |
| BioReference (NY & NJ) | $25.99 | $31.99 | New York and New Jersey orders route here automatically |

Rhode Island is not served. Prices are identical online and in the lab; no draw fee or physician fee is added.

## How much does a Ferritin test cost?

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 2026-09-12](https://www.ondemand.labcorp.com/lab-tests/ferritin-test) |
| Hospital outpatient lab, self-pay (typical) | $100.00 | $100.00 | Reference figure; hospital charges vary widely by facility and are often higher |

Lab test codes: Quest test code 457 · Labcorp test no. 004598 · BioReference code 0088-5.

## How do you prepare?

No fasting required, though morning fasting may improve accuracy.

## Related conditions

- [Iron deficiency anemia](https://www.test-well.com/conditions/anemia) (D50.9)
- Hemochromatosis (E83.110)
- Restless legs syndrome (G25.81)
- Anemia of chronic disease (D63.8)

## Is the Ferritin worth it?

> 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.

### Worth it if you…

- Fatigue, hair shedding, restless legs, or shortness of breath on exertion
- People with heavy periods, or vegetarians/vegans at higher risk of low iron
- Endurance athletes, blood donors, and pregnancy (higher iron demand)
- Confirming iron deficiency behind an abnormal CBC

### You can probably wait if you…

- You have an active infection or inflammation right now - ferritin rises with inflammation and can read falsely normal
- You already confirmed and are simply between routine rechecks

### At home or in the lab?

At-home collection is available. 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](https://www.test-well.com/tests/iron-and-tibc) or a [CRP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/crp) helps interpret a borderline result.

### How do you read the results?

| Result | Typical adult range | What an out-of-range value can mean |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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; last reviewed 2026-06-20._

## Common questions about the Ferritin test

### What's the difference between ferritin and iron?

Serum iron measures iron currently in your blood; ferritin measures the iron in storage. Ferritin drops first when stores deplete — making it the earliest indicator of iron deficiency, often months before hemoglobin drops on a [CBC](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cbc-with-differential).

### What's a healthy ferritin level?

Lab ranges typically start at 15-20 ng/mL, but many functional clinicians target 50-100+ for energy and exercise tolerance. Hair loss often resolves only when ferritin is above 70. Above 200 ng/mL warrants evaluation for iron overload (especially in men) or inflammation (ferritin is also an acute-phase reactant).

### How much does a ferritin test cost without insurance?

On TestWell, the Ferritin test is $24.99. Quest Direct lists the same test at $30, walk-in hospital labs typically bill $80-100 without insurance. Same CLIA-certified labs, same biomarker — TestWell just removes the markup.

### What is the CPT code for a ferritin test?

The CPT code for serum ferritin is 82728. Cash-pay patients don't need a CPT code to order through TestWell.

### Do I need to fast for a ferritin test?

No fasting required. But ferritin can be artificially elevated by recent infections, inflammation, or alcohol — repeat after 2-3 weeks if results don't match symptoms.

### Should I pair ferritin with other iron tests?

Yes — ferritin alone misses functional iron deficiency. The [Iron Panel (Complete)](https://www.test-well.com/tests/iron-panel-complete) adds serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation, and [CBC](https://www.test-well.com/tests/cbc-with-differential). Or pair ferritin + [Iron, TIBC](https://www.test-well.com/tests/iron-and-tibc) at a small discount.

### How often should menstruating women test ferritin?

Annually. Heavy periods, vegetarian/vegan diets, and endurance training all deplete iron stores faster than dietary intake replaces them. Every 6-8 weeks during iron supplementation to confirm absorption.

### Ferritin vs a full iron panel - what is the difference?

Ferritin measures your stored iron and is the best single early marker of deficiency. An [iron and TIBC](https://www.test-well.com/tests/iron-and-tibc) panel adds serum iron and your body's iron-carrying capacity, which helps separate iron-deficiency from other causes. Many people start with ferritin and add the panel if it is borderline.

### Why is my ferritin normal but I still feel tired?

Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant, meaning infection, inflammation, or recent illness can push it up and mask true deficiency. If symptoms persist with a 'normal' ferritin, checking [iron and TIBC](https://www.test-well.com/tests/iron-and-tibc) alongside a [CRP](https://www.test-well.com/tests/crp) can reveal deficiency that ferritin alone hid.

### What ferritin level is considered optimal for hair and energy?

Lab ranges start around 15-30 ng/mL, but many clinicians target higher for symptoms like hair shedding and fatigue (often 40-70 ng/mL or more). Ranges vary and this is general information, not medical advice - discuss your target with a provider.

## How to order

1. Add to cart: https://www.test-well.com/cart?add=ferritin&utm_source=ai_agent&utm_medium=markdown
2. Create an account or sign in, confirm your state and preferred lab, pay by card, HSA or FSA.
3. A licensed physician authorizes the order (usually within minutes); the requisition arrives by email.
4. Walk into any Quest Diagnostics, Labcorp, BioReference (NY & NJ) patient service center — no appointment needed at most sites.
5. Results post to your TestWell portal in 1–3 business days with reference ranges and flags.

## Related

- [Blood Tests for Athletes](https://www.test-well.com/guides/blood-tests-for-athletes)
- [CBC With Differential Explained: What Each Value Means and How to Read Your Results](https://www.test-well.com/guides/cbc-with-differential-explained)
- [H. pylori Testing: Stool Antigen vs Breath Test vs Blood Antibody](https://www.test-well.com/guides/h-pylori-testing)
- [Fatty Liver Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/fatty-liver-panel) — 6 tests · $92.99
- [Baseline Anemia Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/anemia-panel) — 5 tests · $74.99
- [Inflammation Panel](https://www.test-well.com/tests/inflammation-panel) — 7 tests · $119.99
- [All Iron & Anemia tests](https://www.test-well.com/tests/category/iron-anemia)
- [Full test directory](https://www.test-well.com/tests/directory)

---

Medically reviewed by Youmna DiStefano, MD (Medical Reviewer, TestWell); last reviewed 2026-09-14. Review policy: https://www.test-well.com/reviewers/youmna-distefano-md

Canonical page: https://www.test-well.com/tests/ferritin
Machine-readable catalog: https://www.test-well.com/api/catalog.json · MCP server: https://www.test-well.com/mcp · Overview for agents: https://www.test-well.com/llms.txt

Prices are cash-pay, in USD, and include physician authorization; every order adds one flat $6 lab processing fee. Educational content is not a diagnosis — discuss results with a clinician.