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Having either too much or too little iron can cause unpleasant symptoms and have a serious impact on health. Thankfully, a simple iron test can help you figure out where you stand. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Examine the effect of mailed, Healthy.io smartphone urinalysis kits to improve albuminuria screening compliance and detection of albuminuria. There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend a chorionic villus sampling.

Secondary iron overload can result from excessive dietary protein consumption, long-term kidney dialysis, certain types of anemia, or chronic liver disease. Doctors will usually treat a deficiency by prescribing supplements or recommending diet changes. If you have a condition that impairs your body’s ability to absorb iron, your doctor may suggest intravenous iron. In cases of severe iron deficiency anemia, you may need a blood transfusion. A doctor may order all of these tests to get a complete picture of the iron levels in your body.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: Symptoms and Causes
Extra fluid in the blood vessels can raise your blood pressure even more, creating a dangerous cycle, and cause more damage leading to kidney failure. High blood pressure can constrict and narrow the blood vessels, which eventually damages and weakens them throughout the body, including in the kidneys. CVS Health sold 22 million at-home COVID-19 test kits in 2021. The company has worked with its suppliers to increase inventory in-store and on CVS.com and all purchase limits on at-home COVID-19 test kits have been removed as a result.
This is a fully at-home finger-prick test meant to determine if you’re at risk of iron deficiency anemia or iron overload. It identifies your iron blood levels and tests for iron, ferritin, TIBC, and transferrin saturation. Labcorp offers ferritin blood tests that can tell you a bit about your body’s iron stores. If you’re deficient in ferritin, you may deplete iron more quickly than someone with typical ferritin stores.
How we chose the best in-lab and at-home iron tests
It also delivers carbon dioxide back from your organs and tissues to your lungs. Below, we’ll go into what iron tests entail, our picks for best at-home iron testing, how to interpret your results, and when to see a doctor. Healthy kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine. The urine flows from each kidney to the bladder through a pair of thin tubes called ureters, one on each side of your bladder. Your kidneys, ureters, and bladder are part of your urinary tract system.

Consuming insufficient amounts of dietary iron can result in iron deficiency. People who menstruate, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding require more iron, so they are more likely to have iron deficiency. Serum is what's left from your blood plasma when the red blood cells have been removed. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Cerascreen Ferritin Test
BuzzFeed Goodful Self care and ideas to help you live a healthier, happier life. The company offers advice on the return of a positive test. Check out the best Healthline-approved health and wellness deals this holiday season.
While not as convenient as an at-home test, this allows you to skip the doctor’s visit. You can simply use the symptom checker on their website to connect with a doctor and obtain a prescription. It simply means that your body doesn’t have enough of this all-important mineral. There are several tests related to iron, each testing for something slightly different.
At-home iron tests
All information is research-based and correct at the time of publication. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Steph Coelho is a freelance writer with chronic migraine who has a particular interest in health and wellness. When she’s not click-clacking away on her keyboard, she’s probably nose-deep in a good book.

While each report shares possible explanations for your results, its important to share it with a doctor, too. When taking an iron test at home, a person should follow all the instructions carefully and follow up with a healthcare professional if they receive abnormal results. A person should discuss their results with a healthcare professional to receive advice and learn about any necessary treatment options. People say the process isn’t complicated, but that it can take practice to prick your finger and get enough blood.
Some are at-home tests, while others still require a lab visit after you make your purchase. If your kidneys blood vessels are damaged, they may no longer work properly. When this happens, the kidneys are not able to remove all wastes and extra fluid from your body.
An abnormal result may indicate that you have an underlying health condition or have consumed too much iron. If you have kidney disease and are on a restricted protein diet, a health care professional will use blood tests to monitor your nutrient levels. Iron is an important mineral that plays a role in several metabolic processes in the body. At-home iron tests allow a person to check their iron levels without a doctor’s appointment. Iron is an important mineral that is necessary for a healthy body 2.
You can also schedule a follow-up with one of Persona’s board certified doctors to discuss your results. Otherwise, be sure to visit your regular doctor for follow-ups. The TIBC test checks whether there’s too much or too little iron in the bloodstream. A doctor may order this test if they think you have anemia or too much iron in your blood, since both can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
This can help them diagnose conditions like anemia or other underlying problems. The ferritin blood test checks the level of iron stored in your body. Both abnormally low and high ferritin levels can cause unpleasant symptoms. After the lab processes your blood sample, detailed results are shared with you in a patient portal you sign up for after initially registering your test kit.