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Serum Ferritin

Meaning

Serum ferritin is a laboratory biomarker that measures the concentration of ferritin protein circulating in the blood, which serves as the body’s primary storage protein for iron within cells. The serum level is directly proportional to the total body iron stores in healthy individuals, making it the most clinically useful and non-invasive indicator of iron status. Low serum ferritin indicates iron deficiency, while elevated levels can signal iron overload or be an acute-phase reactant reflecting systemic inflammation.