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The iron deficiency index is part of assessing your iron status. The WHO describes ferritin as a measure of iron status, and a low value may point to iron deficiency.[1]
On this page you can read what the iron deficiency index is, what the guidelines say about a value that is too low or too high, what affects your value and which values are best to look at alongside it.
Also known as: iron deficiency index, ferritin-CRP index. At the lab: not applicable.
Put simply, this index sets two values from your blood side by side: ferritin and CRP.
According to the WHO, ferritin is a measure for assessing iron status. This is possible for one person, and also for a whole population group.[1]
The WHO also uses ferritin to track how iron programmes are working out.[1]
According to the WHO, its guideline helps to detect iron deficiency and to protect brain development.[1]
The WHO links iron deficiency to lower productivity at work and at school.[1]
The guideline is meant for a broad audience, from healthcare providers and doctors to researchers and policymakers.[1]
| Value | Can point to | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Low ferritin[1] | iron deficiency | individuals and populations |
| Ferritin in pregnancy[1] | iron status at a time when the need for iron rises | people who are pregnant |
| Ferritin in young children[1] | iron status | children under 2 years old |
Source: WHO guideline on using ferritin to assess iron status in individuals and populations. The table follows the WHO's wording and gives no cut-off values.[1]
The source on this page does not describe what a high index may point to. A doctor looks at your result together with your other values.
A low ferritin may point to iron deficiency. The WHO uses ferritin precisely to detect iron deficiency.[1]
BioProfile is working on its own zones for each value, from risk to optimal. A doctor reviews those zones before they appear in your result.
The WHO points to iron from your diet as a source of the iron in your body.[1]
The WHO describes situations in which the need for iron rises, and gives separate attention to people who are pregnant.[1]
The WHO gives separate information on ferritin in children under 2 years old.[1]
The iron deficiency index is included in all five packages, from BioProfile 31 to BioProfile 150.[2]
The BioProfile editorial team wrote this page on 21 October 2026 from the sources below, which we read on 21 October 2026. Every number on this page appears in one of those sources, with that source's number next to it. An expert has yet to review this page; after that review, the expert's name and the date of the review will appear at the top. This page explains and does not diagnose. Discuss any abnormal value with your GP.
