A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

Iron, Total

The iron circulating in your blood right now, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
Morning draw is best
Before 10 a.m. is preferred. Iron runs highest in the morning.
Results
1 to 2 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Serum iron is the iron moving through your blood on its carrier protein, and this test measures it. Iron levels change through the day, so the lab prefers a morning draw after an overnight fast. Serum iron is a snapshot, and it is often read with ferritin and TIBC for a fuller sense of your iron.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is for adults checking for low iron, rechecking a past iron result, or looking at iron alongside ferritin with a healthcare provider. Commonly related symptoms include:

Body

  • Tiredness or weakness
  • Breathless with activity

Skin

  • Pale skin

Head

  • Lightheadedness

Hair

  • Hair shedding

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows how much iron is in your blood at the time of the draw, which a healthcare provider can read with ferritin and TIBC to see how your iron is doing overall.

Iron
This measures the iron circulating in your blood, most of it carried by a protein called transferrin. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin. The level varies through the day and after meals or supplements, which is why a morning, fasting sample is preferred and why it is read with TIBC and ferritin.
Why it’s measured: Iron in your blood right now, usually checked in the morning after fasting.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. Before 10 a.m. is preferred. Iron runs highest in the morning. Nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 2 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

Serum iron is reported in micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) and shown next to the lab’s reference range for comparison.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

One iron result can swing with timing and meals. A healthcare provider can explain yours and whether ferritin or TIBC would add context.

Ferritin, serum iron, or iron and TIBC?

Three iron tests, three different views of the same system.

Serum iron

Iron moving through your blood at the moment of the draw.

Shows
Iron circulating in the blood right now
Timing
Morning draw after an overnight fast preferred
Keep in mind
Changes through the day, so timing matters

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Iron in the blood is not steady. Levels fall over the course of the day, so a morning draw gives a more consistent result. Fasting matters too, because fat in the blood after a meal can interfere with the measurement.

The prep is a draw before 10 a.m. after an overnight fast. Water is fine.

If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, ask your prescriber how to fast safely before your visit.

Timing and recent meals are the main ones, which is why the prep matters. Serum iron can also be lower during inflammation. Because so much can move it, a single serum iron result is a snapshot, and a healthcare provider reads it with ferritin, TIBC, and your history.

Serum iron shows iron moving in your blood, not how much your body has stored. A low or high number on its own doesn’t show the reason. Ferritin reflects stored iron, and TIBC with saturation shows how full your iron transport is.

No. This test is not for emergencies. If you have chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, heavy bleeding, or black or bloody stools, get emergency care right away rather than waiting for a lab visit or a result.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.