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MyHealthChecked Iron Deficiency (Ferritin) Rapid Test on Powder Blue

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On this page you will discover:

  • How to collect your sample
  • How to interpret your results
  • What you can do next
  • How to contact our customer care team

How to collect your sample

Taking this test is a quick and easy way to screen for an iron deficiency but to obtain an accurate result, it’s essential that you do it correctly. Watch our video here for clear, step-by-step instructions on how to take the test. It will show you how to take a sample of your blood and make sure you get the right amount, as well as how long you’ll need to wait for a reliable result. We recommend watching the full video before you start, to ensure you’re ready to collect your sample. You can then use your SPACEBAR to pause the video where needed as you follow along with the step-by-step instructions.

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Understanding your results

To help you understand what steps to take once you have received your results, we’ve put together this page to help you interpret what your results may mean and what you may want to do with these results. Remember: you should always consult a medical professional before making changes to your diet and lifestyle.

Before you continue it is important that you have:

1. Read the ‘instructions for use’ leaflet included in your kit

2. Taken the test according to instructions

Between 5 and 10 minutes

Interpreting your results

Once you have collected your sample and performed your test, you must wait 5 minutes after applying your sample into the test cassette, before you read the results. Do not interpret the result after 10 minutes.

If 2 lines appear against the test (T) and control (C) on your cassette, the ferritin concentration in your blood is normal.

What next?

Ferritin is a protein in your blood which carries iron and releases it when required by your body. Your ferritin levels are an indirect measure of the amount of iron in your body⁽¹⁾. A normal level of ferritin is considered a marker of good health.

Good dietary sources of iron include foods such as red meat, beans, lentils, dark green vegetables and iron-fortified bread and cereals⁽²⁾⁽³⁾. If your levels are normal, it suggests that your diet contains enough iron, and you are absorbing it well.

You may want to consider repeating this test every 6 months to ensure that you ferritin levels remain within a normal range.

To confirm your result, or to get an exact measurement of the ferritin levels in your blood, you might want to consider taking a confirmatory blood test. This type of test is sent off to a laboratory for analysis and can give an accurate reading of your ferritin levels.

If only 1 line appears against the C marker, the ferritin concentration in your blood is too low.

What next?

A low level of ferritin can indicate that you have iron deficiency. This can be caused by a diet that’s too low in iron or by blood loss⁽²⁾. In women of reproductive age heavy periods and pregnancy are common causes of this.

For all cases of low ferritin, it is important to arrange an appointment with your doctor to discuss your results to ensure there are no underlying causes.

If you find that your ferritin is low because of your diet, you can increase your iron intake by eating foods such as red meat, beans, lentils, dark green vegetables and iron-fortified bread and cereals⁽²⁾⁽³⁾. You can also take iron supplementation in the form of a tablet and your pharmacist can help you find the most suitable for you.

To confirm your result, or to get an exact measurement of the ferritin levels in your blood, you might want to consider taking a confirmatory blood test. This type of test is sent off to a laboratory for analysis and can give an accurate reading of your ferritin levels. You can then take your results to a healthcare professional who will give you advice on what to do next.

If a control line (C) fails to appear or only appears next to the test line (T) it is likely there was an insufficient volume of specimen to test, or the incorrect testing procedure was followed.

What next?

We recommend that you take another test. If this problem persists, please contact our customer care team for further assistance.

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Learn more about your nutrient levels

Discover if you carry the genetic code associated with an iron deficiency

Our Vitamins & Minerals DNA Test will reveal any genes you carry linked to key nutrient deficiencies and offer personalised nutrition recommendations from our team of healthcare professionals.

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Get support

If you encounter any issues with the components of your kit or have any questions regarding your test, please contact care@myhealthchecked.com. Our customer care team is here to assist you and ensure a positive experience.

References: 1. Knovich MA, Storey JA, Coffman LG, Torti SV. Ferritin for the Clinician. Blood Rev. 2009 May;23(3):95–104. 2. Anaemia - iron deficiency | Health topics A to Z | CKS | NICE [Internet]. [cited 2022 Aug 15]. Available from: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anaemia-iron-deficiency/ 3. Prentice AM, Mendoza YA, Pereira D, Cerami C, Wegmuller R, Constable A, et al. Dietary strategies for improving iron status: balancing safety and efficacy. Nutr Rev. 2017 Jan;75(1):49–60.