Ferritin
A ferritin test measures ferritin, the protein that stores iron in the body. A low level can point to low iron stores in dogs and cats, but ferritin also rises with inflammation, so it is read with iron studies and a CBC.
- Sample
- Serum (plain)
- Quantity
- As advised
- Report
- Confirmed when you book
- Collection
- Free in Bhopal
What this test checks
- Ferritin, the protein that stores spare iron in the body
- A clue to whether iron stores are low, normal or raised
- A rise that can also come from inflammation, liver disease or some cancers
When your vet may advise it
- A dog or cat with anaemia that may be caused by iron shortage
- Suspected long-term blood loss from the gut, fleas or ticks
- When serum iron and TIBC do not give a clear answer
About this test
The body keeps spare iron inside a storage protein called ferritin, mostly in the liver and spleen, and a small amount appears in the blood. A low blood ferritin can suggest that iron stores are running low, as may happen with long-term blood loss. Ferritin also rises during inflammation, liver disease and some cancers, so a normal or high value does not always mean the iron stores are healthy. For this reason it is read together with serum iron, TIBC and a complete blood count. A registered veterinarian puts all these results together with your pet's signs and history.
How to prepare
A plain serum sample is used, and the test may be done on its own or with other iron tests chosen by your vet. The lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.
Questions about Ferritin
What does low ferritin mean in a dog?
Can ferritin be high even if my cat is short of iron?
Before you book this test
Why this notice: so you know, before you book, how a test is done, what its limits are and who is responsible.
- Where it is tested. Some tests are done wholly or partly by an independent partner laboratory. The lab tells you before booking if this test is sent out, and the report names the laboratory that did it.
- What a result can and cannot tell you. No test is right every time. A normal result does not rule out every disease, and an abnormal result does not prove one. A registered veterinarian should read the report with the animal’s signs and history before any treatment is started, changed or stopped.
- The sample. A sample that is clotted, too small, wrongly labelled, leaking or too old may be rejected or reported with a note, and the lab may ask for a fresh one.
- Reporting time. Confirmed when you book. Times are estimates, not guarantees, and the lab confirms the time when you book.
- Emergencies. A booking or a pending report must not delay urgent care. If an animal has collapsed, struggles to breathe, has fits or bleeds heavily, call a veterinarian at once.
Please read our Terms of Service, Medical Disclaimer, Privacy Policy and Refund and Cancellation Policy. Pashupatinath Vet Lab is operated by Duaji Healthcare and Tech Private Limited. This page is general information and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice.
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Ferritin: Bhopal and the big cities of Madhya Pradesh
Free sample collection anywhere in Bhopal. From the other cities, send the sample by courier, bus parcel or through your local veterinarian, and the report comes to you online.
Free collection in these Bhopal areas