Ferritin Testing

Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations

The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends removing ferritin from the Ontario laboratory requisition form.
The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends adding ferritin to the antenatal form 1 to ensure appropriate screening of asymptomatic pregnant women in accordance to guidelines.
The Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee recommends restricting ferritin testing to individuals with the following conditions:
- suspected iron overload
- unexplained iron deficient anemia
- asymptomatic pregnant females
- suspected chronic blood loss

Read the full OHTAC Recommendation report

Iron levels in the blood that are too low (iron deficiency anemia) or too high (iron overload) can be a sign of a serious health problem. Ferritin testing is the most common way to measure iron levels in the blood. In 2010/11, about 3.5 million ferritin tests were done in Ontario.

Health Quality Ontario Reviews Ferritin Testing

Health Quality Ontario reviewed the evidence to find out who would benefit most from ferritin testing for iron deficiency or iron overload.

Ferritin Testing: A Rapid Review (PDF)
December 2012

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The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has accepted this recommendation.

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has provided the following response: The ferritin test was removed from the Ontario Laboratory Requisition form in November 2012.

Evidence to Improve Care