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Comparison · Iron & ferritin

Best iron tests for women.

Iron depletion is the single most common nutritional gap in U.S. women of reproductive age — and the single biomarker most likely to be missed by a standard physical. Here are the three iron tests we would actually buy, and how to read what they tell you.

By Hannah Reilly, Heme Editorial Last reviewed: May 2026 11 min read
Affiliate disclosure. Heme has affiliate relationships with some of the providers reviewed. Editorial rankings are never paid placement. See our methodology.
The short version

If you only read one paragraph, read this.

If your concern is iron, the single most useful number is ferritin — your stored iron — not serum iron alone. A full iron panel includes ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation, which is the picture most clinicians want. LetsGetChecked Iron ($89) covers all four markers on a finger-prick at home and includes a clinician follow-up if anything is flagged. Function Health includes the same iron markers as part of its broader 110-plus marker subscription. Quest Health offers a direct-access ferritin for about $29 — by far the cheapest path if you know exactly what you need.

The catch with iron testing: a single ferritin can be artificially elevated by inflammation, so a low number is more reliable than a normal-looking one. Worth discussing the result with a qualified healthcare provider, particularly if you have heavy periods or a history of low iron.

Editor's pick
LetsGetChecked Iron
$89. Full iron panel (ferritin + serum iron + TIBC + transferrin saturation) with included nurse follow-up.
Best for comprehensive
Function Health
$499/yr — iron included alongside 110+ other markers and MD review. Best for trending.
Best for budget
Quest Health ferritin
$29. Direct-access ferritin at a Quest lab — same draw your physician would order.

Iron tests, compared.

Scored on the same seven criteria as every Heme comparison. Editor's pick row is shaded.

Provider Markers Method Cost (2026) Clinician review Turnaround Insurance / HSA Transparency
LetsGetChecked Iron 4 (Fer, Fe, TIBC, TSAT) Finger-prick $89 Nurse follow-up on flags 5 – 7 days HSA/FSA yes High
Function Health (full panel) Iron panel + 100+ others Venous draw · Quest $499 / year MD review on all results 7 – 10 days HSA/FSA yes High
Quest Health ferritin 1 (ferritin only) Venous draw · Quest $29 None included 1 – 3 days HSA/FSA yes Highest
Quest Health iron + ferritin panel 4 (Fer, Fe, TIBC, TSAT) Venous draw · Quest $59 None included 1 – 3 days HSA/FSA yes Highest

Three iron tests, three formats.

The right iron test depends on whether you want a single read, a recurring trend, or just the cheapest reliable number. Below: what each one does well and where it falls short.

LetsGetChecked Iron, reviewed.

Editor's pick · Full panel
Price$89
FormatFinger-prick at home
MarkersFerritin, Fe, TIBC, TSAT
Heme Score89 / 100

LetsGetChecked's iron panel is the cleanest at-home iron test on the market in 2026. The $89 price covers all four iron markers — ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity, and transferrin saturation — which together give a clinician-grade picture of iron status. The kit ships with a finger-prick collection device, prepaid return label, and clear instructions. The result lands as a PDF within five to seven days, with a brief plain-English summary.

What we like: the included clinician follow-up is the difference between this and a cheaper direct-access option. If your ferritin or transferrin saturation comes back flagged, a LetsGetChecked nurse calls within 24 hours and walks you through what the number means and what next steps are reasonable. For a reader who is not yet under active medical care for iron, that conversation is genuinely useful.

What we do not like: finger-prick collection is unforgiving for women with small veins. Voided samples happen. LetsGetChecked will reship a kit at no cost if collection fails, but it adds a week to the timeline. We also wish the dashboard trended results over time the way Function's does — you can only see your own historical results within LetsGetChecked's app, not directly compared to reference ranges over a longer arc.

Best for: a one-time or yearly iron check, women with heavy periods or persistent fatigue, anyone whose primary care doctor will not order a full iron panel without symptoms. Worth discussing flagged results with a qualified healthcare provider before starting supplementation.

Function Health (iron panel), reviewed.

Best for comprehensive
Price$499 / year (all-in)
FormatVenous draw, 2× per year
MarkersIron panel + 100+ others
Heme Score92 / 100 (iron context)

Function Health includes a full iron panel — ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation — as part of its broader 110-plus marker comprehensive subscription. You will pay considerably more than the LetsGetChecked panel, but you also get an MD review on every result, two annual draws (so you see a real trend), and the iron numbers in the context of inflammation markers (CRP, ESR) that can artificially inflate ferritin.

What we like: this is the only at-home product that puts ferritin in clinical context. A normal-looking ferritin alongside an elevated CRP reads very differently than a normal ferritin in the absence of inflammation — and Function's MD review flags that distinction without prompting. The venous draw also removes most of the collection-side variance that affects finger-prick samples.

What we do not like: this is overkill for a reader who just wants to know if their iron is okay. If iron is your only question and you do not want a subscription, the LetsGetChecked Iron panel or Quest Health's direct-access ferritin will answer that question for one-tenth the annual price.

Best for: women who want trending iron data alongside a comprehensive picture, anyone with chronic iron depletion who needs context (inflammation markers, MCV, RDW) for interpretation. Discuss flagged results with a qualified healthcare provider before changing anything.

Quest Health ferritin / iron, reviewed.

Best for budget
Price$29 – $59
FormatVenous draw, in-clinic Quest
Markers1 – 4
Heme Score88 / 100

Quest Health's direct-access ferritin panel is the cheapest reliable iron test in the U.S. consumer market in 2026 — about $29 for ferritin alone, or about $59 for the full iron panel including TIBC and transferrin saturation. The accuracy is identical to a physician-ordered draw because it is the same lab, the same equipment, and the same reference ranges. You walk into a Quest draw station, a phlebotomist takes blood, and the result lands as a PDF in one to three business days.

What we like: the price is genuinely shocking for a venous-draw lab result. For a reader who knows exactly what they want — a baseline ferritin, or a follow-up ferritin three months into iron supplementation to see if the number is moving — this is the cleanest and cheapest path.

What we do not like: there is no clinical interpretation included. You receive the PDF and that is the product. For a first-time iron-testing reader staring at a ferritin of 18 ng/mL and not sure what to make of it, the LetsGetChecked format with included nurse follow-up is a better starting point. The Quest Health flow also expects you to handle the lab visit yourself — no kit, no shipping, just an appointment.

Best for: cost-conscious readers, women already familiar with iron testing who want a quick follow-up, anyone who lives near a Quest draw station. Speak with a qualified healthcare provider about the result.

What to look for, before you buy.

Ferritin first, iron second

If you can only test one marker, test ferritin. Serum iron fluctuates meaningfully across the day and across recent food intake; ferritin reflects your iron stores and is the more useful single number for catching depletion.

The full iron panel matters when supplementing

If you are already on iron and want to track response, the full panel (ferritin, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation) shows whether you are absorbing and whether you are over-supplementing. Ferritin alone moves slowly.

Watch for inflammation

Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant — it can rise with infection, illness, or chronic inflammation. A normal-looking ferritin alongside an elevated CRP is not necessarily reassuring. Function Health is the only at-home product that includes inflammation markers in the same panel.

Reference range vs functional range

U.S. labs typically flag ferritin as "low" only below 11 to 13 ng/mL. Many clinicians consider levels under 30 ng/mL functionally depleted in symptomatic women, and prefer to see at least 50 ng/mL in women with heavy periods or hair shedding. Worth a conversation with your clinician.

Test before and after supplementing

If you are starting iron supplementation, a baseline ferritin and a repeat after three to six months tells you whether you are responding. Without the baseline, you cannot tell if the supplementation worked.

Heavy periods, postpartum, vegetarian diets

These are the three populations most likely to be iron-depleted in the U.S. If you fall into any of them, a yearly ferritin is worth considering — even without acute symptoms. Discuss the right cadence with a qualified healthcare provider.

How we chose, and how we score.

Read the Heme methodology →

Common questions, answered.

What is the best at-home iron test for women?

For a single, well-reviewed iron and ferritin panel, LetsGetChecked Iron ($89) is our pick. For a comprehensive picture that includes iron alongside 100-plus other markers, Function Health is the broader buy. For the lowest price, Quest Health offers a direct-access ferritin panel for around $29 — same lab as most physician orders.

What is the difference between iron and ferritin?

Serum iron measures iron currently circulating in your blood — it varies meaningfully across the day. Ferritin measures stored iron — your body's iron reserve, the more useful single marker for catching depletion early. A full iron panel typically includes ferritin, serum iron, TIBC (total iron-binding capacity), and transferrin saturation.

When should I test my iron?

Worth considering if you have heavy menstrual periods, persistent fatigue, hair shedding, restless legs, or shortness of breath. Many women of reproductive age have low ferritin (under 30 ng/mL) without yet meeting the threshold for anemia — which is why ferritin tends to be the more informative single marker.

Are at-home iron tests accurate?

When processed at a CLIA-certified lab, at-home iron and ferritin tests can produce results comparable to a physician-ordered draw. Venous-draw formats (Function, Quest Health) are slightly more reliable than finger-prick for cell counts; ferritin itself measures consistently on both formats.

What ferritin level should I be concerned about?

Standard U.S. reference ranges start the "normal" window around 11 to 13 ng/mL, but many clinicians consider ferritin under 30 ng/mL functionally depleted and a value over 50 ng/mL as a more comfortable target for women with symptoms. Worth discussing your specific number with a qualified healthcare provider in the context of your symptoms.

Do I need to fast before an iron test?

Serum iron can be affected by recent food intake and is ideally measured in the morning after an overnight fast. Ferritin is more stable and does not require fasting. If you are running a full iron panel, fasting is generally recommended for the most consistent serum iron reading.

Important

Educational only. Not medical advice. Heme is an editorial publication. Test results and the information on this page are educational and may inform a conversation with your clinician — they are not a diagnosis or a treatment recommendation. Pricing reflects publicly listed 2026 figures and can change without notice. Speak with a qualified healthcare provider about your individual situation.