Biomarker education
Iron: What It Measures & Why People Track It
Also called: Serum iron
Serum iron measures the amount of iron currently circulating in the blood.
General biomarker education — not personalized medical advice. Learn more
Result on your report
IllustrativeIron
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Range: Low – High
LowReference intervalHigh
What it generally measures
This test reflects iron in transit in the bloodstream at the time of the draw, which can vary throughout the day.
Common units on reports: µg/dL
Why people track it over time
Iron is typically reviewed with ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation together, since any one value alone can be misleading.
Changes over time do not by themselves establish a diagnosis. Learn more
Questions you might ask a healthcare professional
Questions to bring
IllustrativeAsk how iron compares with ferritin and TIBC on the same report.
Confirm whether the sample was fasting, since iron levels can vary by time of day.
Related markers
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