On-the-spot blood ferritin testing in pharmacies.
Expand your pharmacy services with ferritin testing.
The Igloo Reader Pro delivers rapid, reliable results that help detect iron deficiency right at the point of care.
Key takeaways
- Ferritin is the body’s iron-storage protein.
- Low ferritin is the earliest sign of iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA).
- With Igloo Reader Pro, pharmacies can provide rapid, on-the-spot ferritin testing for their customers.
Learn more about our Starter Kit for Pharmacies >
What is ferritin?
Ferritin is an iron-storage protein found in cells. A ferritin blood test estimates the body’s iron reserves and is used to detect iron deficiency.
Why is ferritin important?
Ferritin plays a key role as the body’s primary iron storage protein. Iron is essential for making healthy red blood cells, which deliver oxygen to tissues, sustain organ function, and support proper brain development and cognition.
Why ferritin testing matters in pharmacy?
Measuring ferritin helps identify iron deficiency early, enabling pharmacies to provide value-added services and guidance to the customers.
Why pharmacies should offer ferritin testing:
- Strengthen their role as community health and wellness hubs.
- Identify at-risk groups, such as women and older adults.
- Provide timely iron status checks to customers.
- Offer personalized supplements, advice, or referrals as needed.
How is ferritin measured?
- Sample: Small blood sample.
- Units: ng/mL (mcg/L).
Interpretation: Ferritin is often reviewed alongside hemoglobin and sometimes C-reactive protein (CRP) to differentiate iron deficiency from inflammation-related changes. Always follow the instructions for use (IFU) provided to your pharmacy or other health-related point-of-care business with the device and a test kit.
Ferritin testing with Igloo Reader Pro
The Igloo Reader Pro enables on-the-spot rapid immunoassay ferritin testing with a simple capillary blood sample. Results are available within minutes, making it easy to integrate into pharmacy workflows.
Benefits of ferritin testing with the Igloo Reader Pro for pharmacies:
- Deliver fast, accurate ferritin testing at the point-of-care.
- Easily integrate testing into routine pharmacy workflows.
- Expand preventive health services available in-store.
- Create new revenue streams through testing and follow-up support.
Result: < 30 ng/mL for men, < 20 ng/mL
What it means: Low ferritin - possible iron deficiency.
How to explain/action: Inform customer of possible iron deficiency. Recommend seeing a healthcare professional for diagnosis and supplementation.
Result: 30-300 ng/mL for men, 20-200 ng/mL for women*
What it means: Normal ferritin level.
How to explain/action: Reassure customer that ferritin is within normal range. Encourage routine health monitoring.
Result: >300 ng/mL for men, >200 ng/mL for women
What it means: High ferritin - may indicate inflammation or iron overload.
How to explain/action: Advise customer to consult a healthcare professional to investigate causes.
*What are normal ferritin values?
In adults, normal ranges are typically 30-300 ng/mL for men and 20-200 ng/mL for women, according to NIH and Mayo Clinic. It is important to underline that many labs have different guidelines and reference intervals, which should be taken into consideration while looking at the clinical context. The normal ranges may differ depending on age, sex, and other parameters.
Reference intervals vary across test kits, guidelines, and population groups. For example, the Lansionbio Ferritin test kit IFU defines a reference range of 16-220 ng/mL for men and 10-125 ng/mL for women; the Wizbio Ferritin test kit IFU defines 23.9-336.2 ng/mL for men and 11-306.8 ng/mL for women. Individual institutions are encouraged to establish their own reference ranges for the populations they serve.
Why pharmacies should offer ferritin testing?
Incorporating ferritin testing with tools like the Igloo Reader Pro empowers pharmacies to provide quick, reliable iron status assessments for their customers. This helps detect iron deficiency early, improves customer care, and supports business growth through expanded health services.
In cases of low ferritin, pharmacies can provide guidance on potential iron-rich dietary sources and commonly recommended supplements, while always referring customers to a clinician for personalized evaluation and supplementation advice.
Learn more about the Pharmacy Starter Kit >
Literature
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements - Iron: Health Professional Fact Sheet.
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements - Iron: Consumer Fact Sheet.
Mayo Clinic – Ferritin test.
- CHEN Ying-qin, CHUANG hai, WU Wei-wei. Clinical significance of serum iron and transferrin detection in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis [J]. Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 2014, 39(4). (cited in Lansionbio Ferritin IFU)
- Yao ZJ, xia JR. The significance of serum ferritin detection in the assessment of liver injury [J]. Chinese Journal of Tropical Medicine. 2004, 4(3). (cited in Lansionbio Ferritin IFU)
- Dong Yi, Liu Lei, Zhu Taigang, et al.Clinical value of serum ferritin detection in anemia [J]. Chinese General Practice. 2010,8(4). (cited in Lansionbio Ferritin IFU)
- Alkhateeb AA, Connor JR. The significance of ferritin in cancer and oxidation, inflammation and tumorigenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Dec;1830(2):245-54. (cited in Wizbiotech Ferritin IFU)
- Garcia-Casal MN, Peña-Rosas JP, Urrechaga E, et al. Performance and comparability of laboratory methods for measuring ferritin concentrations in human serum or plasma. A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2018;13(5): e0196576. Published 2018 May 3. (cited in Wizbiotech Ferritin IFU)
- Garg R, Aravind S, Kaur S, et al. Role of serum ferritin as a prognostic marker in acute ischemic stroke: A preliminary observation. Ann Afr Med. 2020;52(1-2):95-102. (cited in Wizbiotech Ferritin IFU)
- Sezgin G, Monagle P, Loh TP, et al. Clinical thresholds for diagnosing iron deficiency: a comparison of functional assessment of serum ferritin in population-based centiles. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1) 18233. Published 2020 Oct 26. (cited in Wizbiotech Ferritin IFU)
Disclaimer
This information is educational and does not qualify for a medical advice. Always use local reference ranges and consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some common questions about diagnostics for pharmacists.
A ferritin blood test measures the amount of ferritin, the body’s iron-storage protein, in the blood. It helps evaluate iron storage and can indicate early iron deficiency or iron overload.
Ferritin testing allows pharmacies to provide on-the-spot iron status checks for their customers. It expands your service offerings, strengthens community health engagement, and supports early detection of iron deficiency.
The Igloo Reader Pro enables rapid ferritin testing using a small capillary blood sample, with results available in minutes. It is designed for easy integration into pharmacy or dental clinic workflows, helping to deliver timely, accurate information to their customers.
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