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Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
We stand behind our service
Go directly to the lab, no extra fees
With friendly doctor's notes & guidance
Lab visit as quick as 10 mins in & out
This test is ideal if you're experiencing constant fatigue, weakness, pale skin, dizziness, or shortness of breath that might be caused by anemia. It helps identify whether your tiredness is due to iron deficiency, low vitamin B12, inadequate folate, or other blood-related issues affecting your energy levels. Many people use this test when they suspect nutritional deficiencies are impacting their daily energy and overall health.
You should fast for 12 hours before your blood draw and schedule your appointment in the morning, since iron levels can drop by 30% throughout the day. If you're taking biotin supplements (vitamin B7 or B8), stop taking them at least 72 hours before your test as they can interfere with some results. If you're on methotrexate or leucovorin medications, let the lab know as these can affect folate test accuracy.
This comprehensive panel checks your iron status including total iron, iron binding capacity, and ferritin to assess iron stores. It measures vitamin B12 and folate levels that are essential for red blood cell production, evaluates your complete blood count to identify anemia types, checks reticulocyte count to see how well your body is making new red blood cells, and includes a comprehensive metabolic panel to assess overall health factors that may contribute to fatigue and weakness.
What this means
Your ferritin level is below the optimal range, indicating your body's iron stores are depleted. Low ferritin is often the earliest sign of iron deficiency and can cause fatigue, weakness, difficulty concentrating, and hair thinning even before anemia develops.
Recommended actions
Increase iron-rich foods like lean red meat, chicken, fish, beans, lentils, and fortified cereals
Pair iron sources with vitamin C foods like oranges, strawberries, or bell peppers to boost absorption
Consider an iron supplement as recommended by your healthcare provider
Avoid tea and coffee with meals as they reduce iron absorption
Retest ferritin in 8-12 weeks after starting supplementation to monitor improvement
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