WHAT IS THE TEST FOR?
The Iron-FER test detects the concentration of ferritin in the blood, in order to define a possible iron deficiency in the body. Several clinical studies have shown that determining blood ferritin levels can be used to aid in the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. A decrease can also occur due to pregnancy, tuberculosis, bleeding and alterations in iron uptake.
WHAT IS FERRITIN?
Ferritin is a protein that allows the storage of iron within cells and releases it if needed, making it quickly usable by the body. This protein is present in all cells, particularly those of the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Iron is an essential metal for our body and is essential for transporting oxygen in the blood. Checking blood ferritin levels means evaluating iron stores in the body. In a state of iron deficiency, reserves are reduced before anemia manifests itself: the ferritin level is therefore useful in determining a depletion of iron reserves.
WHO IS THE TEST FOR?
The Iron-FER test can be easily used at home from puberty, around the age of 15, because before normal levels are higher than the decision value of the level of cut of this test. The Iron-FER Test is recommended for all those people who lead a healthy and balanced life and, above all, for pregnant women: during pregnancy the need for iron is double and a deficiency at this stage of development can lead to complications in the brain of the fetus.
HOW DOES THE TEST WORK?
The Iron-FER test is an immunochromatographic assay that detects the protein ferritin in blood thanks to special gold-conjugated monoclonal antibodies embedded in the test strip. This device can detect ferritin level lower or higher than 30 ng/mL, according to international guidelines. Results in exactly 5 minutes.
WHEN SHOULD I TAKE THE TEST?
If you are iron deficient you do not receive enough oxygenated blood, so you will feel very tired, exhausted and breathless enough to have some difficulty doing your normal daily activities, until reaching much more serious pathological conditions. Checking the ferritin level in the blood is an excellent way to check iron stocks in the body and, consequently, quickly identify a possible state of iron deficiency anemia. In case of a positive result, you can contact your primary care doctor to adopt the most appropriate therapeutic solution.
WHAT DOES THE TEST CONTAIN?
- instructions for use
- 2 sterilized lancets for self-puncture and blood sampling
- 1 antiseptic cleaning gauze
- 1 vial with a dropper containing the diluent for the test
- 1 sealed aluminum bag containing:
- 1 test device
- 1 sachet of desiccant
- 1 plastic pipette for blood sampling
