Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) ASCP Practice Exam

Ferritin is considered the best overall marker for assessing a patient’s iron stores. This protein is responsible for storing iron in the body and releasing it in a controlled manner. Ferritin levels reflect the total amount of iron stored in the body, which makes it a reliable indicator of a patient’s iron status.

In clinical practice, low ferritin levels are associated with iron deficiency, while elevated ferritin levels can indicate iron overload or inflammation. Thus, measuring ferritin provides a clear picture of both iron deficiency and excess, making it a critical component of diagnosing conditions related to iron metabolism.

While transferrin is another important marker associated with iron transport, it does not indicate stored iron levels directly but rather reflects iron's availability for transport in the blood. Hemoglobin and hematocrit are measures related to the effects of iron on red blood cells, but they do not directly assess iron stores. Instead, they indicate the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, offering no direct insight into the body’s iron reserves.