Iron
Serum iron measures the amount of iron currently circulating in the blood (bound to transferrin). It is only a snapshot — it fluctuates strongly over the day and after meals, so we always read it with ferritin and saturation.
| Rating | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Talk to a doctor | below 10 µmol/L | Low serum iron — often deficiency; assess with ferritin and transferrin saturation. |
| Good | 10 – 30 µmol/L | Within the reference range. |
| Talk to a doctor | 30 µmol/L and above | High — assess with transferrin saturation (iron overload?); consult. |
This marker also has 2 age- or sex-specific range sets in the app — the table shows the general one.
Why it matters
Iron alone is an unreliable marker (fluctuates strongly day to day) — ferritin is key for iron stores, transferrin saturation for availability; evaluate together.
If it’s low
Low serum iron can indicate a deficiency or inflammation — the context (ferritin, saturation) tells which.
If it’s high
High serum iron can accompany overload, liver disease, hemolysis or a recent supplement/meal.
What to do
Do not draw conclusions from iron alone — look at ferritin and saturation. Action follows the overall picture, not a single value.
Read together with
Ferritin · Transferrin saturation · Transferrin · Hemoglobin
Part of the guide: Iron & ferritin →
Articles about this marker
- Ferritin and iron: what the values mean and how to improve themMarker explained
- How to prepare for a blood test — fasting or not, water, coffee, medication, exercisePreparing for a blood test
This content is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your results.
Your number, not the average
Upload your report: we rate your exact value for your age and sex, show the source, and tell you what to do next.