Understanding Abnormal Hemoglobin (Hgb) Test Results

Hemoglobin (Hgb) tests measure the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein found in red blood cells. It carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

Hemoglobin test may be abnormal higher than normal:

- Polycythemia

- Congenital heart disease

- Chronic bronchitis/emphysema

Hemoglobin test may be abnormal lower than normal:

- Iron deficiency anemia

-Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia

-Anemia of chronic disease

-Kidney disease

-Cancer

-Thalassemia

-Myelodysplastic syndrome

- Aplastic anemia

- Acute blood loss.

-Hemolytic anemia, in which red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.

-Bone marrow failure, in which the bone marrow doesn't produce enough red blood cells.