Iron

Iron helps carry oxygen; this test checks the amount of circulating iron in your blood.

Last reviewedJune 16, 2026

Serum

sample type

~5 mL

blood needed

~7 days

results in app

Morning, 7 to 11am

best timing

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On this page

Why test Reference ranges What you'll learn What affects it How testing works Sources FAQ

In short

Iron is a mineral your body uses to make hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The serum iron test measures the amount of iron circulating in your blood, most of it bound to the transport protein transferrin.

This is a single snapshot that changes through the day and with recent meals, so it is read together with other iron markers rather than on its own.

Blood Health (CBC & Iron)

Reviewed against DGKL reference practice.

Why test this?

A serum iron test is part of assessing iron status. Low serum iron can point to iron deficiency, blood loss, or chronic illness and may contribute to anaemia and fatigue.

High serum iron can occur with iron overload, too many supplements, or some liver and blood conditions. Because a single iron value swings widely, it is most useful read with transferrin, total iron-binding capacity, transferrin saturation, and ferritin.

What is a normal result?

Aniva reads your result against research-backed ranges, not just the lab's wide normal. The reference shown below is specific to this biomarker.

Adult reference values as used by Aniva. Ranges are guidance and can vary by laboratory and method.

Group	Normal range	Optimal range
Men	50 to 150 µg/dL	85 to 130 µg/dL
Women	35 to 145 µg/dL	85 to 130 µg/dL

Your Aniva report reads your result against these values together with your age, sex and the rest of your panel.

Ranges are guidance and vary by lab and assay, aligned with DGKL practice. Always read your result against your own lab's reference interval.

What insights will this test give you?

One piece of your iron status picture.
Together with transferrin and ferritin, a clearer view of iron deficiency or overload.
A value your concierge combines with the full iron panel for your personalized action plan.

What can affect this result?

What can skew the result

Serum iron is highest in the morning and falls later in the day. Recent iron supplements or an iron-rich meal raise it. Infection and inflammation lower it. Haemolysis of the sample can falsely raise the reading.

Best interpreted with

Best read with transferrin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), transferrin saturation, and ferritin.

How is this tested?

Sample

Serum

Blood needed

~5 mL

Method

Photometry

Best timing

Morning, 7 to 11am

Sources. The evidence behind this

LOINC 2498-4: Iron in serum or plasma

NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron

Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Iron, Serum

Common questions

What does my iron result mean? High means more iron circulating; low means less available. Results need context with ferritin, transferrin, and CBC.

Do I need to fast? No. A morning sample is preferred, and avoiding iron pills for 24 hours helps.

What can affect results? Recent iron or vitamin C, time of day, illness, pregnancy, dehydration, and some medicines can shift levels.

How often should I test? If treating anemia or monitoring risk, your clinician may recheck in 1 to 3 months. Follow their advice.

How long do results take? Results are usually ready in about 7 days.

What should I discuss with my clinician? Your diet, supplements, bleeding history, and whether to add ferritin, TIBC, or genetic tests.

Which Aniva panels include this marker?

Core

Your annual full-body baseline with more than 100 biomarkers, included in your Aniva membership.