Ferritin is an intracellular protein which functions as the human body's storehouse of iron. It is responsible for the sequestration, storage, and release of iron is known to play a role in the mucosal absorption of iron and acts as a "buffer" against iron deficiency and overload. The amount of ferritin present in plasma indicates the total iron reserves in the body; this makes ferritin a significant diagnostic parameter associated with iron deficiency.
Ferritin test helps in determining the iron stores in the body, which aids the clinical diagnosis of diseases associated with fluctuations of iron concentration, eg. anemia (from iron deficiency) and hemochromatosis (iron overload). Total iron binding capacity and iron test along with ferritin test help in diagnosis and estimating the severity of iron-deficiency anemia or hemochromatosis.