what are normal serum iron levels in blood
Serum Iron. A serum iron test determines the amount of iron in the liquid portion of the blood. Because the amount of iron in the blood varies throughout the day, experts at Lab Tests Online recommend performing iron testing the first thing in the morning. A normal range for iron in the blood, as reported by MedlinePlus, is 60mcg/dL to 170 mcg/dL. Iron levels less than that may indicate blood loss through gastrointestinal bleeding or heavy menstruation, poor iron absorption, pregnancy or failure to consume enough dietary iron.
As blood iron levels become low, the stored iron also decreases, causing ferritin levels to drop. For women, serum ferritin normally ranges from 12 to 150 ng/dL while men range from 12ng/dL to 300ng/dL, or nanograms per deciliter.