Iron is an essential trace element measured in serum or plasma to assess iron status, diagnose iron deficiency or overload, and monitor treatment response. It plays a critical role in oxygen transport, cellular metabolism, and numerous enzymatic processes throughout the body. Iron is primarily bound to transferrin in circulation and stored as ferritin in tissues. It is a key component of hemoglobin for oxygen transport and myoglobin for muscle oxygen storage. Iron also serves as a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in energy production, DNA synthesis, and immune function.
Iron is a mineral your body needs to make healthy red blood cells and transport oxygen. This test measures the iron in your blood, which can be too high or too low for various reasons.
When elevated: Elevated iron levels may indicate hemochromatosis, excessive supplementation, or recent transfusion. Chronic elevation can lead to organ damage through oxidative stress, particularly affecting the liver, heart, and pancreas. When low: Low iron levels suggest iron deficiency, chronic blood loss, or poor absorption. This can result in iron deficiency anemia, fatigue, impaired cognitive function, and reduced exercise capacity.
Iron is critical for athletes because it directly supports oxygen delivery to working muscles and aerobic energy production during training. Endurance athletes, female athletes, and those with high training volumes are at higher risk for iron deficiency, which can impair performance, reduce power output, and slow recovery. Regular iron monitoring helps optimize oxygen-carrying capacity and maintain consistent training intensity and adaptation.
Turnaround Time
3 days (up to 4 days)
Method
Colorimetric
Order online
Choose your lab and check out. We send your lab requisition automatically — no doctor visit needed.
Get your sample collected
Visit a lab service center near you for a quick blood draw (or book at-home phlebotomy where available).
See your results
Your results land in your Insider portal, ready to review and act on — that easy.
Your price
$8.90$60
6.7× less than retail
Versus the typical direct-to-consumer retail price for this test (illustrative — consumer prices vary by provider and region).
$8.90
Peer-reviewed sources supporting the educational content on this page.
Iron is an essential trace element measured in serum or plasma to assess iron status, diagnose iron deficiency or overload, and monitor treatment response. It plays a critical role in oxygen transport, cellular metabolism, and numerous enzymatic processes throughout the body.
Iron is a mineral your body needs to make healthy red blood cells and transport oxygen. This test measures the iron in your blood, which can be too high or too low for various reasons.
When elevated: Elevated iron levels may indicate hemochromatosis, excessive supplementation, or recent transfusion. Chronic elevation can lead to organ damage through oxidative stress, particularly affecting the liver, heart, and pancreas.
The Iron test starts at $8.90 at Labcorp. No doctor's visit and no insurance needed; we do not bill insurance. Fitomics Insider members pay from $7.90.
Results for the Iron test are typically ready about 3 days after your draw, and up to 4 days for some samples. Your results land in your Insider portal.
No. When you order the Iron test from Fitomics Research Labs, a licensed physician in our 50-state network reviews and signs your requisition after checkout, and it lands in your portal and inbox. Then visit any Labcorp, Quest, or BioReference patient service center for your draw; results post to your Insider portal.
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