What usually happens next
Inflammation, infection, alcohol and fatty liver raise ferritin far more often than iron overload does.
A transferrin saturation decides it: if that's normal, iron overload is unlikely.
When a ferritin can read wrong
Ferritin is also an inflammation marker: an infection, an inflammatory condition, fatty liver or heavy drinking can push it up and hide low iron. In those cases a ferritin under 70 ng/mL can still mean iron deficiency.
Read it with
- Ferritin, explained in full
- Transferrin saturation
- Serum iron
- Hemoglobin
- Iron deficiency
- Haemochromatosis
Nearby results

Questions
Is a ferritin of 150 ng/mL normal?
A ferritin of 150 ng/mL is above 150 ng/mL, the WHO's line for possible iron overload in women (200 in men). The usual range is about 30 to 300 ng/mL, depending on the lab, sex and age.
Is a ferritin of 150 ng/mL too low?
Under 15 ng/mL means iron stores are empty, and under 30 they're likely depleted. Between 30 and 45 it's low-normal; what matters is whether you're anaemic and why.
Can I take iron with a ferritin of 150 ng/mL?
Iron is something to replace with your doctor, after finding out why it's low, because taking it when you don't need it can do harm.
Worked out by LifeFrom from the WHO's 2020 ferritin guideline and the AGA guideline, and not yet reviewed by a clinician. For your own understanding: only a lab test, read by your clinician, diagnoses anything.