Ferri-Check® – home test for possible iron deficiency (ferritin in blood)
Ferri-Check® is a simple, quick and user-friendly home test that has been developed to reveal whether the body's iron stores may be low by measuring the level of ferritin (iron storage protein) in a small drop of capillary blood from the fingertip. The test is based on an immunological rapid test (lateral flow) and gives an answer in a few minutes in the form of a clear control/test line - so you get an indication of whether the ferritin level is below or within the normal range. Ferri-Check® is intended as a screening tool for private individuals who wish to investigate whether low iron stores could be a possible explanation for typical symptoms such as fatigue and decreased energy, but it does not replace a doctor's visit, laboratory test or medical assessment.

Health benefits
Ferri-Check® is not a treatment product, but an aid for insight and understanding of your own health:
• 🩸 Simple screening of iron stores at home: The test can indicate whether the ferritin concentration in the blood is low, so you know whether it may be appropriate to see a doctor for further investigation
• 👩⚕️ Support for dialogue with healthcare personnel: A positive test result (low ferritin) can be useful information when discussing symptoms and further investigation with a doctor or other healthcare personnel
• 🌸 Less well-known, but useful: Ferri-Check® can be particularly interesting in phases of life with an increased need for iron - for example during heavy periods, rapid growth, pregnancy or periods with a low intake of iron-containing food - as a supplement to self-observation before you possibly take blood tests from a doctor

Technical details and specifications
Ferri-Check® is a qualitative rapid test for ferritin in capillary whole blood from the fingertip:
• Test type: Immunochromatographic rapid test (lateral flow) for the detection of ferritin in whole blood
• Analyte: Ferritin – a protein that stores iron in the cells and reflects the body's iron stores
• Sample type: Capillary whole blood from finger prick
• Sample volume: One small drop of blood (take up in the supplied plastic pipette to the marked line)
• Time course:
– Blood is dripped into the sample well and absorbed (approx. 30–40 seconds)
– Then add the supplied diluent (4 drops at 2-3 second intervals)
- Results can be read after approx. 10 minutes (do not interpret results after 15 minutes or more)
• Reading:
– C line (Control): Shows that the test is working as it should
– T-line (Test): Indicates whether the ferritin level is within or below the defined normal range
• Principle: The test contains antibodies that bind ferritin and form a colored line in the test window. A control line captures excess reagent and confirms that the test has been correctly performed
• Typical cut-off: The test is calibrated so that the absence of a test line (C line only) indicates a ferritin level below the normal range (approximately around 20 ng/mL defined against the reference level used in the manufacturer's validation)
• Use: Only for in vitro diagnostics (self-test for home use) and as a screening tool for possible iron deficiency – not for definitive diagnosis
• Accuracy: The test has been developed as a rapid qualitative test for home use. Clinical studies on ferritin rapid tests generally show good agreement with laboratory measurements when used as a screening tool, but the final assessment must always be made by a doctor based on laboratory tests and clinical picture
• Storage: Store dry and at the recommended temperature (see box/insert), protected from direct sunlight and heat
• Shelf life: Use by the expiry date stated on the package. Do not use a test that has damaged packaging or has expired

Result interpretation (simplified)
• Positive test (possible low iron stores):
– Only one colored line under C (Control)
- Indicates that the ferritin level in the blood may be low, and that the body's iron reserves may be insufficient
- You should contact a doctor for further investigation and possible laboratory tests of ferritin and other iron parameters
• Negative test (ferritin in the normal range):
– Two colored lines – one under C (Control) and one under T (Test). The T line may be weaker than the C line
- Indicates that the ferritin level is within the test's defined normal range and that there are no signs of clearly reduced iron stores based on this test
- In case of persistent symptoms, you should still discuss the situation with a doctor
• Invalid test:
– No line, or line below T without C line
- The test is invalid and must be repeated with a new test and a new drop of blood

Label information
Product name: Ferri-Check® – quick test for possible iron deficiency (ferritin in blood)
Product type: In vitro self-test for qualitative assessment of ferritin level in capillary whole blood
Area of use: Screening for possible iron deficiency (low iron stores) in adults and adolescents where this is relevant. Not suitable for people suspected of or known to have haemochromatosis (iron storage disease).
Contents per pack (typical):
• Test cassette(s) in individual protective bag
• Plastic pipette/capillary pipette for collecting blood
• Diluent in dropper bottle
• Sterile lancet for finger pricks
• Disinfection pad(s) (alcohol wipes) – may vary per package
• Instructions for use (insert)

Short user guide (always see the full user manual):
• Wash and disinfect the fingertip (middle or ring finger)
• Prick with a lancet and collect blood in the pipette to the marked line
• Drip the blood into the sample well, wait 30–40 seconds
• Add 4 drops of diluent to the well, 2-3 seconds apart
• Read results after 10 minutes, do not interpret after 15 minutes

Warning:
• Do not use the test if you suspect or have been diagnosed with hemochromatosis - clarify testing with a doctor
• The test is for single use only – one test per person per cassette
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Only used for self-testing and information - not to make a diagnosis or start treatment on your own

Manufacturer/brand: Swiss Point of Care
Importer and distributor in Norway: Uno Vita AS, Moss, Norway

Reservations (for devices and test equipment)
Use of self-tests, measuring equipment and treatment devices is at your own risk and should always be done in consultation with a doctor or other qualified healthcare personnel. Results from Ferri-Check® must be interpreted in an overall context and cannot be used alone as a basis for diagnosis, treatment or changing medication. In the event of a positive test or persistent symptoms, a doctor should be contacted for further investigation and follow-up. Keep out of the reach of children. Uno Vita AS does not claim that our products can cure, prevent or treat disease, regardless of what individual studies may indicate.

Disclaimer
Uno Vita is increasingly using artificial intelligence to obtain information, analyses, summaries and design product descriptions and articles. We therefore cannot guarantee that all information is complete, up-to-date or error-free at all times. The content on this page is intended for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information must not be used as a basis for making diagnoses or choosing forms of treatment without assessment by qualified healthcare personnel. All products and all information are used at your own risk. Uno Vita gives no express or implied guarantees beyond what follows from the applicable legislation on product liability.

Freedom of expression and right to information
Uno Vita reserves the right to share publicly available research, technical data and information about health and wellness technology, natural substances, measuring equipment and diagnostic aids. This is done in line with national and international principles for freedom of expression and information, including the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19), the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (Article 19), Norwegian Constitution Section 100 and corresponding sources of law. The information is intended as a contribution to knowledge and reflection, not as a substitute for medical advice or follow-up.

Scientific references

1. WHO. Guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. World Health Organisation.

2. Daru J. et al. Serum ferritin as an indicator of iron status: what do we need to know? American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

3. Addo OY. et al. Physiologically based serum ferritin thresholds for iron deficiency. The Lancet Global Health.

4. Breymann C. Treatment of iron deficiency in women. Journal of Women's Health.

5. Khandelwal MA. The importance of iron and ferritin testing in blood donors. Canadian Blood Services – Professional Education.

6. Mayo Clinic. Ferritin test – what it measures and how it is used.

7. Testing.com. Ferritin – clinical use and interpretation.

8. RCH Clinical Practice Guidelines. Iron deficiency – the role of serum ferritin in screening.

9. Government of British Columbia. Iron Deficiency – Diagnosis and Management.

10. Fiddler JL. et al. Using capillary whole blood to quantitatively measure ferritin with a point-of-care device. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis.

11. Evaluation of the Diagnostic Performance of Ferritin Rapid Tests in Whole Blood. Journal of Laboratory Medicine.

12. ALL TEST. Ferritin Rapid Test Cassette (Whole Blood) – Package Insert and performance data.

13. Smith Biomedical. How to check iron levels at home with a ferritin rapid test.

14. MyHealthChecked. Iron deficiency (ferritin) rapid test – clinical performance overview.

15. Kandel CE. Rapid tests for iron deficiency and their role in screening. International Journal of Point-of-Care Testing.

16. Kassebaum NJ. The global burden of iron deficiency. Blood Reviews.

17. Beard JL. Iron biology in immune function, muscle metabolism and neuronal functioning. Journal of Nutrition.

18. Lopez A. et al. Iron deficiency anaemia. Lancet.

19. Milman N. Serum ferritin in the diagnosis of iron deficiency in adults. Clinical Biochemistry Reviews.

20. Koury MJ. Iron metabolism and ferritin – overview of physiology. Hematology/Oncology Clinics of North America.

21. Powell LW. Hemochromatosis and iron overload – why screening protocols matter. Journal of Hepatology.