Diagnosis

Haemochromatosis can usually be diagnosed with blood tests.

Speak to a GP about getting tested if:

Blood tests

Several blood tests are needed to diagnose haemochromatosis.

You'll have a:

If your blood tests suggest haemochromatosis, you'll have a test to see if your DNA carries the gene associated with the condition.

Read about the causes of haemochromatosis.

These tests will help show if you have haemochromatosis, if you're a carrier of a faulty gene linked to the condition, or if you might have another condition that causes high iron levels.

If these tests detect a problem, you'll usually be referred to a hospital specialist to discuss what the results mean and whether you might need any further tests or treatment.

Further tests

If blood tests show that you have haemochromatosis, you may need to have some further tests to check if the condition has caused any organ damage, particularly damage to your liver.

These tests may include:

Liver damage is 1 of the main complications of haemochromatosis.

Other causes of high iron levels

A high level of iron in the body can have several causes other than haemochromatosis, including:

Page last reviewed: 29 March 2023
Next review due: 29 March 2026