Blood and lab tests
What Is Hemoglobin on a Blood Test?
Hemoglobin · say it: HEE-muh-gloh-binAlso written: Hb, Hgb, haemoglobin
Short answer
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body; its level is a key part of a full blood count.
What it means
Red blood cells are packed with hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and releases it in the body's tissues. It also gives blood its red color.
A low hemoglobin level is called anaemia. It can happen for many reasons, including low iron, blood loss, vitamin shortages or long-term illness. A high level is less common and can be linked to dehydration, smoking, living at altitude or other conditions.
Hemoglobin is part of a complete blood count (CBC). Doctors usually read it alongside hematocrit, MCV and other red cell results to work out what might be going on.
Where you may see it
- Complete blood count (CBC) or full blood count (FBC)
- Pregnancy blood tests
- Pre-surgery and blood donation checks
📄 How it looks on a report
Hemoglobin 11.2 g/dL L
🙅 What it does not mean
- A low hemoglobin is a finding, not a cause. It does not say why it is low.
- It is not the same as iron. Iron levels, including ferritin, are measured with separate tests.
- Ranges differ by age, sex and pregnancy, so a value that is fine for one person may be flagged for another.
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
🧾 Reports where you will see “Hemoglobin”
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💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Hemoglobin”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Primaquine
An antimalarial medicine of the 8-aminoquinoline group, as described in the label
- Sitagliptin
a DPP-4 inhibitor, a type of medicine used to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes
- Warfarin Sodium
A blood thinner (anticoagulant) of the vitamin K antagonist type. The label says it acts by blocking vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Hemoglobin” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
- NCI Dictionary definition ↗
US National Cancer Institute: “hemoglobin”
- MedlinePlus lab test guides ↗
US National Library of Medicine
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General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.