Order an iron deficiency test and check your iron

Iron is involved in oxygen transport, energy production and your immune defence. A single iron value fluctuates during the day and does not always tell the whole story, which is why this iron deficiency test also adds your storage and transport.

Ferritin shows your iron stores, transferrin is the transport protein and transferrin saturation indicates how much of that transport capacity is being used. Together they give a broader view than a single iron blood test. It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis.

This test may suit men who:

• experience persistent fatigue, reduced endurance or unexplained weakness that could relate to iron
• follow a diet that is lower in iron, for example plant-based
• want to track their iron stores, especially if earlier values were borderline
• train intensively, which can influence iron turnover

• Iron serum (umol/l): the amount of iron circulating in your blood. This value can vary over the day and after meals.
• Ferritin (ug/l): reflects your iron stores. Low ferritin may point to depleted reserves, while elevated ferritin can be associated with inflammation or iron overload.
• Transferrin (g/L): the protein that transports iron through your bloodstream. Your body may produce more transferrin when stores are low.
• Transferrin saturation (%): the percentage of transferrin that is carrying iron. This calculated value helps indicate whether there is enough iron available for what your body needs.

If you want to know more about an individual marker, see the page about ferritin.

Taken together, these markers may help distinguish between different states of your iron balance. Low ferritin with elevated transferrin could, for example, suggest your body is compensating for depleted stores.

Normal iron with low transferrin saturation might mean iron is present but not being used effectively. Elevated ferritin without other signs of deficiency may be associated with inflammation rather than a true iron excess. The combination of four values gives more nuance than a single marker.

Blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are 700+ locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

This is a blood test without a referral: you do not need to see your GP first. You pick a location and time yourself, and the draw usually takes around 10 to 15 minutes and is done by trained staff.

This iron deficiency test can be useful for symptoms that may relate to an iron imbalance, such as persistent tiredness, reduced physical performance or difficulty recovering from exercise.

It can also be handy if you want to have your iron values measured to record a baseline or to track changes over time. If you want to look at your red blood cells and B12 alongside your iron, the broader anaemia workup may fit better.

Your results appear with a reference range for each marker. Your iron metabolism consists of several interacting components, so the values are best interpreted together rather than in isolation.

A doctor can help determine whether the overall picture points to a healthy iron status or whether further investigation could be worthwhile. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab and person.

Coming fasted is advised for more consistent results. Avoid iron supplements for 24 hours before the draw, as they can temporarily raise your serum iron and affect your result.

If you are unsure about medication or supplements, check with your doctor.

Your results are available online within a few working days in your personal dashboard. The report shows your measured values alongside their reference ranges.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.