Iron, Total Test
This test measures the total amount of iron in a blood sample. Quest describes total iron as a measurement used in evaluating both iron deficiency and hemochromatosis, conditions involving abnormally low or high iron levels.
About this test
The test is performed on a serum sample using spectrophotometry, a method that measures how much light the sample absorbs to determine iron concentration. Quest lists total iron as a measurement used in evaluating iron deficiency, where iron is abnormally low, and hemochromatosis, where iron accumulates to abnormally high levels.
Quest also notes that iron levels can vary at different times of day, and that lipemia — a high level of fat in the blood — can interfere with the result. Because of this variability, a single iron result is usually read alongside other iron-related markers and a person's history rather than on its own.
Who might consider this test?
- Often being evaluated for symptoms associated with low iron
- For a family or personal history that raises the possibility of hemochromatosis
- It is frequently ordered together with other iron-related markers rather than by itself.
Test details
| Quest code | 571 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Spectrophotometry |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What this test looks at
The test reports the total amount of iron present in a serum sample. Quest notes that the result can be affected by the time of day of collection and by lipemia, a high level of fat in the blood, which is one reason it is read alongside other findings.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does this test measure?
It measures the total amount of iron present in a serum sample, using spectrophotometry.
How is the sample collected?
The test uses a serum sample from a routine blood draw.
Do I need to prepare for this test?
No preparation instructions are listed for this test, though people follow any instructions their ordering clinician provides.
Can iron levels vary during the day?
Quest notes that iron levels can vary at different times of day, and that a high level of fat in the blood, called lipemia, can interfere with the result.
Is a single total iron result enough to evaluate a condition on its own?
No. Quest lists total iron as a measurement used in evaluating iron deficiency and hemochromatosis, and a clinician reads it together with other iron-related markers and a person's history.
What does a Iron Total test cost without insurance?
$19. Celio Health's price is a flat cash price and insurance is never billed: the required physician's order is included.