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Go beyond ferritin alone. This four-marker panel reveals how iron is stored, transported, and utilised across your body.
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A comprehensive four-marker iron assessment covering ferritin, serum iron, transferrin saturation, and TIBC. Home fingerstick kit available.
Iron is required for haemoglobin synthesis, oxygen transport, and energy metabolism, yet iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency worldwide. A single ferritin measurement tells only part of the story; this panel adds serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation to build a complete picture of how iron is moving through your body, not just how much is stored. This four-marker combination is used by haematologists to distinguish iron-deficiency anaemia from the anaemia of chronic disease, to monitor the response to iron therapy, and to assess iron overload conditions such as hereditary haemochromatosis. Whether you are investigating fatigue, breathlessness, or pica, or tracking the impact of dietary changes or supplementation, this panel provides the clinical detail needed for meaningful action. All results are reviewed by a GMC-registered physician before release.
Understand what each marker measures, why it matters, and what the science says — not just a list of numbers.
This panel is designed for adults who want a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of their metabolic health — not a GP referral panel.
Women with heavy menstrual bleeding or a recent pregnancy
Athletes and endurance runners experiencing unexplained fatigue or reduced performance
Vegetarians and vegans with limited dietary haem iron
People with a family history of haemochromatosis
Anyone monitoring the response to iron supplementation or dietary intervention
This iron panel does not include a full blood count; therefore haemoglobin concentration, red cell indices, and reticulocyte counts are not assessed. Ferritin behaves as an acute-phase reactant and rises in inflammatory conditions, infection, and liver disease regardless of iron stores, which may mask underlying deficiency. Serum iron shows significant diurnal variation (highest in the morning) and is influenced by recent dietary intake, which is why fasting and morning collection are recommended. Transferrin saturation is a calculated ratio and inherits variability from both component measurements. This panel is suitable for screening and monitoring but is not a substitute for specialist haematological assessment in complex clinical presentations.
From order to physician-reviewed report in as little as three working days.
Home fingerstick or mobile phlebotomist — choose at checkout.
Fast overnight and collect in the morning for most accurate results.
Pre-paid Royal Mail envelope included.
Secure online report in 3 to 5 working days.
Three options designed to fit your schedule, location, and preference — all producing a laboratory-standard sample.
Adults 18+ in mainland UK. Not suitable if you have had a transfusion in the last 3 months.
Order anytime; kit dispatched within 24 hours Mon–Fri.
Allow 24–48 hours for sample transit on top of lab processing time.
Adults 18+ within 20 miles of a serviced city centre.
Mon–Sun, 06:00–20:00. Next-day booking typical.
Sample reaches the lab within 24 hours of collection.
Adults 16+ with photo ID. Paediatric draws by appointment at selected sites.
Mon–Fri, with Saturday hours at most metropolitan locations.
Samples processed same-day at the receiving clinic.
Every test is processed in a UKAS ISO 15189-accredited laboratory, overseen by GMC-registered physicians, and governed by UK GDPR. No overseas processing, no offshore data.
Follow these guidelines to ensure accurate, reproducible results. Most markers are sensitive to recent food, exercise, and sleep.
Can't find your answer? Our clinical support team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm.
Contact supportSerum iron measures iron currently circulating in the bloodstream bound to transferrin, whereas ferritin reflects iron held in reserve in tissues such as the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. Serum iron fluctuates significantly throughout the day and with meals, making it a less reliable standalone marker. Ferritin changes more slowly and is a better indicator of overall iron stores. Using both together, alongside TIBC and transferrin saturation, creates a much more complete and clinically useful picture of iron metabolism than either marker alone.
This pattern can occur in several situations. In early iron deficiency, stores are being mobilised to maintain circulating iron, so serum iron may fall before ferritin drops below the reference range. It can also occur in haemochromatosis, where iron is trapped in tissues. Inflammatory states also complicate interpretation because ferritin rises as an acute-phase protein while iron release from storage is simultaneously suppressed. A full four-marker panel, interpreted together with your symptoms and medical history, is far more informative than any single result.
Yes. Endurance athletes are at elevated risk of iron deficiency due to sweat losses, foot-strike haemolysis, and increased gastrointestinal transit that can impair absorption. Sports anaemia is a distinct phenomenon where plasma volume expansion dilutes haemoglobin without true deficiency. Some athletes also have low-to-normal ferritin that is still insufficient to support the demands of intense training. Transferrin saturation below 16% alongside a ferritin below 20 micrograms per litre is often used as a threshold for intervention in athletic populations, regardless of haemoglobin.
Transferrin saturation above 45% suggests that transferrin is carrying more iron than normal. In the context of elevated ferritin, this pattern is a key indicator for hereditary haemochromatosis, a common genetic condition (particularly in those of Northern European descent) in which the body absorbs too much dietary iron. If your results show elevated transferrin saturation alongside a raised ferritin, your physician commentary will recommend follow-up with a GP for confirmatory genetic testing. Haemochromatosis is very manageable when caught early.
Most clinicians recommend retesting after three months of consistent iron supplementation to assess the response. Serum iron and transferrin saturation will typically normalise within weeks, but ferritin recovery takes considerably longer as body stores are rebuilt incrementally. If you are taking prescribed iron (ferrous sulphate, ferrous fumarate, or ferric preparations), your GP may want an earlier check at six to eight weeks to confirm tolerability and compliance. Avoid testing on the same day as a supplement dose.
Not necessarily. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant, so a raised result is common during any active infection, inflammatory condition, or liver stress. In these contexts it does not reliably reflect iron stores. However, persistently elevated ferritin in the absence of infection or inflammation is a red flag for haemochromatosis, liver disease, or, rarely, certain malignancies. Your physician commentary will contextualise your result and flag when further investigation is warranted.
