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Hemoglobin

A hemoglobin test measures the levels of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in your red blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Your cells need oxygen to grow, reproduce, and make energy for you to function. Your hemoglobin levels provide information about the health of your red blood cells.

A hemoglobin test is a blood test often used to check for anemia, a condition in which your body does not make enough healthy red blood cells. If you have anemia, the cells in your body don't get all the oxygen they need. Hemoglobin levels are usually measured as part of a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a group of tests that measure the number and type of cells in your blood.

Source: MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine

Normal range

46 published ranges, each from a named source
Female
11.6–16 g/dL (varies by lab)ABIM 12–16 · Mayo 11.6–15 g/dL
Male
13.2–18 g/dL (varies by lab)ABIM 14–18 · Mayo 13.2–16.6 g/dL
Ranges from American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog), Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog).

All source ranges (46)
SourceSexAgeRange
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) Female all ages 12–16 g/dL
American Board of Internal Medicine (Laboratory Test Reference Ranges) Male all ages 14–18 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female all ages 11.6–15 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female all ages 11.6–15 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 13.4–20 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female ≤ 14 d 13.4–20 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 10.8–14.6 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 15 d – 28 d 10.8–14.6 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 9.2–11.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 1 mo – 2 mo 9.2–11.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 9.9–12.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 2 mo – 5 mo 9.9–12.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 3 y 10.2–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 6 mo – 3 y 10.2–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 5 y 11.4–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 3 y – 5 y 11.4–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 6 y – 8 y 11.5–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 6 y – 8 y 11.5–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 9 y – 10 y 11.8–14.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 9 y – 10 y 11.8–14.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Female 11 y – 17 y 11.9–14.8 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Female 11 y – 17 y 11.9–14.8 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male all ages 13.2–16.6 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male all ages 13.2–16.6 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 13.9–19.1 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male ≤ 14 d 13.9–19.1 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 10–15.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 15 d – 28 d 10–15.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 8.9–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 1 mo – 2 mo 8.9–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 9.6–12.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 mo – 5 mo 9.6–12.4 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 10.1–12.5 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 6 mo – 2 y 10.1–12.5 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 10.2–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 2 y – 3 y 10.2–12.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 5 y 11.4–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 3 y – 5 y 11.4–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 6 y – 8 y 11.5–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 6 y – 8 y 11.5–14.3 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 9 y – 10 y 11.8–14.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 9 y – 10 y 11.8–14.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 11 y – 14 y 12.4–15.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 11 y – 14 y 12.4–15.7 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Pediatric Test Catalog) Male 15 y – 17 y 13.3–16.9 g/dL
Mayo Clinic Laboratories (Test Catalog) Male 15 y – 17 y 13.3–16.9 g/dL

What moves it

cited guidance. not medical advice
Iron — address deficiency when low · National Institutes of Health - Office of Dietary Supplements

What an abnormal result can be associated with

A high result
Increased circulating hemoglobin concentration
A low result
Decreased hemoglobin concentration
Associations from LOINC2HPO (Human Phenotype Ontology). This is reference information, not a diagnosis: only a clinician can interpret your result in context.
details
Sample
Whole blood · LOINC
Part of
CBC panel · CBC W Differential panel, method unspecified · Hemoglobin and Hematocrit panel
Code
LOINC 718-7 · g/dL
Also known as
Haemoglobin, Hb, Hgb
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