Skip to main content
Your session has expired. Reloading...
Minerals

Transferrin in women: the iron transport protein, pregnancy and the pill

The protein transferrin carries iron through the body, because according to the NVKC iron in the blood is always bound to transferrin. According to the NVKC, a shortage of iron can mean that too little haemoglobin, the oxygen-binding protein in the red blood cells, is formed.

According to the NVKC, a raised transferrin could fit iron deficiency, but in pregnancy and with use of the contraceptive pill the TIBC, another way of reporting the measured transferrin, can also be raised. Only a blood test shows whether transferrin is raised.

Star-SHL uses 2.5 to 3.8 g/l for transferrin in women, and Unilabs 1.8 to 3.2 g/l.

Doctor's Assessment Included

Transferrin is the protein that iron in the blood is bound to and with which iron is carried through the body. According to the NVKC, a raised transferrin could fit iron deficiency, a lowered one an excess of iron.

  • Star-SHL uses 2.2 to 3.6 g/l in men and 2.5 to 3.8 g/l in women; Unilabs 1.8 to 2.9 g/l in men and 1.8 to 3.2 g/l in women.
  • Diagnostiek voor U uses 2.0 to 4.1 g/L in people older than 16.
  • According to the NVKC, TIBC is another way of reporting the same measured amount of transferrin, in µmol per litre.

Reference Ranges

Female
g/l
Low 2 Normal 3.5 High

Source: NVKC Reference population: Dutch adults (NVKC)

Reference ranges may vary between laboratories. When you order a test, a BIG-registered doctor assesses your personal results in context. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.

Check your own value

Transferrin: what Dutch laboratories use

Reference ranges by group, in g/l
Star-shl · Female 2.5–3.8 g/l
2.5 3.8
Unilabs · Female 1.8–3.2 g/l
1.8 3.2
Diagnostiek voor U · Everyone · 17 years and older 2.0–4.1 g/L
2 4.1
0 4.51 g/l

Source: Star-shl

Source: Unilabs

Source: Diagnostiek voor U

Each value as the laboratory itself publishes it, retrieved in 2026.

Transferrin: what this test measures

A transferrin result gives the amount of transferrin in the blood in g/l, and Star-SHL and Unilabs each give separate reference values for women and men. The upper limit for women is 3.8 g/l at Star-SHL and 3.2 g/l at Unilabs.

Transferrin: why this value matters

When an iron shortage is suspected, transferrin matters, because according to the NVKC a transferrin test can establish whether further investigation or treatment of the iron shortage is needed.

Transferrin: how the blood test works

Referral
No GP referral needed. After the order we arrange the referral through ZorgDomein, within one business day; orders after 17:00 or at the weekend start on the next business day. ZorgDomein emails a barcode, and that barcode is what the draw site needs.
The draw
A blood draw from a vein in the arm, at a partner laboratory's draw site. No home kit, no finger prick.
Which test
Iron Status · €89,- · Anemia · €132,-
Where
650+ draw sites run by independent laboratories across the Netherlands. Draw sites

Transferrin: when is testing worthwhile?

According to the NVKC, the doctor requests a transferrin test on suspicion of an iron shortage or an iron excess. According to the NVKC, during a pregnancy or with use of the pill the TIBC, another way of reporting the measured transferrin, can be raised.

Transferrin: symptoms of a high or low value

Low Levels

For a lowered transferrin, the NVKC names several possible explanations: an excess of iron in the body, a low-protein diet and a liver that functions less well.

High Levels

According to the NVKC, a raised transferrin in a woman could fit iron deficiency, and according to the NVKC, in anaemia from iron deficiency the red blood cells are usually smaller than normal.

Transferrin: causes of a low or high value

What lowers the value

  • Iron excess, for example haemochromatosis

    A lowered transferrin could fit an excess of iron in the body, as in haemochromatosis. Certain (inherited) forms of anaemia can also go with iron accumulation.

  • Low-protein diet

    A lowered transferrin can also point to a low-protein diet.

  • Reduced liver function

    A lowered transferrin can also point to the liver functioning less well.

What raises the value

  • Iron deficiency

    A raised transferrin could fit iron deficiency.

  • Pregnancy

    In pregnancy the TIBC, another way of reporting the measured transferrin, can be raised.

  • Contraceptive pill

    With use of the contraceptive pill the TIBC, another way of reporting the measured transferrin, can be raised.

Transferrin: lifestyle and this value

Discuss a raised transferrin with your GP, and mention a pregnancy or use of the contraceptive pill, because according to the NVKC these can raise the TIBC.

Transferrin: frequently asked questions

Can the contraceptive pill raise transferrin?

Yes, according to the NVKC the TIBC, another way of reporting the measured transferrin, can be raised with use of the contraceptive pill.

Transferrin: sources

  1. Nederlandse Vereniging voor Klinische Chemie en Laboratoriumgeneeskunde. Alles over testen. Over AFP: "De referentiewaarden kunnen verschillen tussen laboratoria, afhankelijk van de methode. Ga daarom uitsluitend af op de referentiewaarden van het laboratorium dat het onderzoek heeft uitgevoerd en interpreteer nooit AFP-uitslagen van verschillende laboratoria door elkaar." Geraadpleegd 14 juli 2026. (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl
  2. Diagnostiek voor U, eLabgids (Referentiewaarden DvU), diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) diagnostiek.getincontrol.eu
  3. Star-shl, Labbepalingen (referentiewaarden per bepaling), star-shl.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) star-shl.nl
  4. Unilabs, Bepalingenklapper (referentiewaarden per bepaling), bepalingenklapper.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-01 (retrieved 2026) bepalingenklapper.nl
  5. NVKC, Alles over testen: Transferrine, allesovertesten.nl, geraadpleegd 2026-10-17 (retrieved 2026) allesovertesten.nl

See Lunarahealth more often in Google

Add us as a preferred source. Google will then show our articles more often in your search results and in AI overviews. You can turn this off again at any time.

That did not work. Please try again.

Test Products

This marker is included in the following test panels.

Medical reviewer

Medical standards

Dr. Naimi oversees the medical standards behind our content and assessments.

Medical policy
CIBG Ministerie van Volksgezondheid,
Welzijn en Sport Official BIG registration BIG 49928676701 Opens in a new tab

Transferrin

€23,-