Information about a laboratory test

Low Ferritin: What Does It Mean?

A low ferritin level can be a strong finding supporting depleted iron stores; clinical thresholds may differ by age and by the presence of inflammation.

Test summary

Test name: Ferritin
Abbreviations: Ferritin
Category: Iron Metabolism
Panel: Iron Studies
Specimen: Serum
Common units: ng/mL, µg/L

What does the test measure?

Measures the blood level of ferritin, a protein that provides information about the body's iron stores.

Why is the test ordered?

Used to assess low or excessive iron stores and to complement other tests of iron metabolism.

Information about a low result

A low ferritin level can be a strong finding supporting depleted iron stores; clinical thresholds may differ by age and by the presence of inflammation.

Information about a high result

A high ferritin level does not necessarily mean iron overload; ferritin can also rise with inflammation, infection, liver disease, and other conditions.

Reference and clinical context

Use the reference interval printed on your own laboratory report first. Reference intervals may vary by laboratory, method, unit, age, sex, pregnancy, specimen, and other conditions. Numeric records in this workbook are explicitly labeled as either source-based example reference intervals or clinical decision cutoffs.

Reference context 1

< 12 µg/L

Population: Infants and young children 0–23 months
Age range: 0 – 1.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 2

< 12 µg/L

Population: Children 24–59 months
Age range: 2 – 4.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 3

< 15 µg/L

Population: Children 5 to <10 years
Age range: 5 – 9.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 4

< 15 µg/L

Population: Adolescents 10 to <20 years
Age range: 10 – 19.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 5

< 15 µg/L

Population: Adults 20–59 years
Age range: 20 – 59.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 6

< 15 µg/L

Population: Older persons 60+
Age range: 60
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 7

< 30 µg/L

Population: Infants and young children 0–23 months
Age range: 0 – 1.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 8

< 30 µg/L

Population: Children 24–59 months
Age range: 2 – 4.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 9

< 70 µg/L

Population: Children 5 to <10 years
Age range: 5 – 9.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 10

< 70 µg/L

Population: Adolescents 10 to <20 years
Age range: 10 – 19.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 11

< 70 µg/L

Population: Adults 20–59 years
Age range: 20 – 59.99
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 12

< 70 µg/L

Population: Older persons 60+
Age range: 60
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 clinical cutoff. Inflammation markers should be assessed where relevant.

Reference context 13

< 15 µg/L

Population: Pregnant women
Sex: Female
Pregnancy status: Yes
Trimester: 1
Specimen: Serum

Iron deficiency cutoff

WHO 2020 provides <15 µg/L for first trimester; table does not provide a second/third trimester cutoff.

Reference ranges may vary by laboratory, method used, age, sex, pregnancy status, and clinical context. The reference range on your own laboratory report takes precedence.

Interpretation notes

WHO 2020 uses ferritin <12 µg/L for apparently healthy children aged 0–59 months and <15 µg/L for people aged 5 years and older as cutoffs indicating iron deficiency. Higher cutoffs are used when infection or inflammation is present. These are clinical decision cutoffs, not laboratory reference intervals.

Related specialties

Internal Medicine
Hematology
Gastroenterology
Pediatrics
Obstetrics and Gynecology

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Indices — U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)
Government medical reference · 2024 · MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW definitions and interpretation · Verified: Aug 11, 2026
Platelet Tests — U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)
Government medical reference · 2024 · Platelet count; thrombocytopenia/thrombocytosis context · Verified: Aug 11, 2026
RDW (Red Cell Distribution Width) — U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)
Government medical reference · 2024 · RDW interpretation; low RDW usually not concerning; combine with other indices · Verified: Aug 11, 2026
Iron Tests — U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)
Government medical reference · 2024 · Serum iron, transferrin, TIBC, ferritin; combined interpretation · Verified: Aug 11, 2026
Ferritin Blood Test — U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus)
Government medical reference · 2025 · Ferritin purpose; low/high context; inflammation and liver-related causes of elevation · Verified: Aug 11, 2026
WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations — World Health Organization
WHO guideline · 2020 · Ferritin cutoffs by age; inflammation context; first-trimester pregnancy note · Verified: Aug 11, 2026