Do you have symptoms of iron deficiency, like feeling tired all the time, low energy, shortness of breath, or pale skin? Perhaps you have heavy periods, are pregnant, or regularly take steroids or NSAIDs like ibuprofen — all of which can increase your risk of iron deficiency. Our at-home iron test measures the amount of iron carried in your blood and stored in your body, to help identify low iron levels. Iron is an essential mineral that’s needed to make haemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen around your body. It also plays an important role in supporting your immune system, maintaining energy levels, and regulating body temperature. When your iron level is low, you can feel tired and be more susceptible to illnesses and infections. And a severe lack of iron could lead to iron deficiency anaemia, which causes fatigue, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations. Our intravenous iron test checks several biomarkers to give you a full picture of your iron levels. As the iron level in your blood fluctuates daily, based on the iron you get from your diet, this test also measures ferritin — a protein used to store iron in your body. Ferritin is almost always the best measure of your iron status as it’s more stable. Low iron levels are most caused by blood loss, such as heavy periods or internal bleeding (often in the digestive tract). You’re at greater risk if you regularly take steroids, blood thinners, or drugs like ibuprofen. Other causes of iron deficiency include pregnancy, a low-iron diet, or bowel conditions like coeliac disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Ferritin levels may be raised with conditions such as infection, inflammation, liver or renal conditions, or chronic alcohol consumption. However, our test also checks an inflammatory marker (HS-CRP) to help distinguish between some of these causes.