Blood
Iron (Fe)
Also known as: Serum Iron, Fe Serum
CONVERT & COMPARE
µg/dL
=
17.9
µmol/L
=
100
mcg/dL
=
100
ug/dL
=
17.9
umol/L
=
17.9
mcmol/L
Reference ranges by source
Published adult intervals: 18, from 7 named sources, shown in µg/dL.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
All
≥18y
40 – 188 µg/dL
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
All · ≥18y
40 – 188 µg/dL
Ages 0–17 (CALIPER)
3 age- and sex-stratified entries from the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
About Iron (Fe)
Iron tests measure different substances in the blood to check iron levels in your body. Iron is a mineral that your body needs for growth and development. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Iron is also important for healthy muscles, bone marrow, and organ function. Your body also needs iron to make some hormones.
You get iron from eating food or taking supplements. There are iron-only supplements, but many multivitamin/mineral supplements also contain iron.
The amount of iron you need each day depends on your age, your sex, and whether you consume a mostly plant-based diet. Iron levels that are too low or too high can cause health concerns. For example, not having enough iron in your body is the most common cause of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Useful for
Check if the iron levels in your blood are too low, a sign of anemia.
Diagnose different types of anemia.
Check if the iron levels in your blood are too high, which could be a sign of hemochromatosis.
Measure the amount of iron stored in your liver to check for liver disease.
Check for restless legs syndrome (tingling or burning feelings in your legs).
Check for adult Still disease, also called adult-onset Still disease or AOSD.
See if treatments for iron deficiency (low iron levels) or excess iron (high iron levels) are working.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Interpretation
To understand the results of your iron test, your provider will consider your symptoms, age, medical history, and the results of other blood tests.
If one or more iron test results show your iron levels are too low, it may mean you have iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia.
If one or more iron test results show your iron levels are too high, it may mean you have a condition such as hemochromatosis or another condition that causes excess iron.
Most conditions that cause too little or too much iron can be treated with iron supplements (for low iron), changes to your diet, medicines, and/or other therapies.
For general wellness information only. Talk to a clinician about your specific results.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
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Related biomarkers
More tests in the blood category.
Sources
A
ARUP Laboratories
M
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
L
Labcorp
Q
Quest Diagnostics
N
Nordic Reference Interval Project
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
#
NUMBER: Dutch Reference Value Study
C
CALIPER: Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals
Last updated 2026-05-02
This page presents source-specific reference data and sourced explanations. For general wellness information only. This is not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment of any condition, talk to a qualified clinician.