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Hemoglobin

The iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

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What it is

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.^[1]

Why it matters

Anemia can develop when blood produces a lower-than-normal amount of healthy red blood cells, reducing oxygen-rich blood delivery.^[2]

What it affects

Hemoglobin is read with RBC count, hematocrit, MCV, ferritin/iron context, bleeding, kidney, inflammation, and marrow context.^[1,2]

Interpretation traps

A hemoglobin value is not a standalone cause of anemia.^[2]

Related conditions

Anemia and oxygen-carrying capacity Iron-deficiency anemia and production context Sickle cell disease and flow blockage Bleeding disorders and clotting-factor context Leukemia and blood-forming tissue