Ferritin, serum or plasma

Ferritin is a high-molecular weight iron-containing protein that functions in the body as an iron storage compound. Measuring serum ferritin have significantly advanced the ability to detect iron deficiency and overload. Since iron deficiency is present before the onset of anemia, detection of an iron depleted state is important for the control of nutritional anemia. The clinical assessment of iron stores has historically relied on the determination of serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and percent transferrin (ratio of serum iron and TIBC) or direct examination of bone marrow.