Blood
Hemoglobin (Hgb)
Also known as: Hb, Haemoglobin
CONVERT & COMPARE
g/dL
=
149
g/L
=
9.25
mmol/L
Reference ranges by source
Published adult intervals: 14, from 7 named sources, shown in g/dL.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
Male
≥18y
13.7 – 16.8 g/dL
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
Female
≥18y
11.6 – 14.8 g/dL
T
Turkey Nationwide Reference Intervals
Male
≥18y
13.1 – 17.5 g/dL
T
Turkey Nationwide Reference Intervals
Female
≥18y
11 – 15.2 g/dL
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
Male · ≥18y
13.7 – 16.8 g/dL
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
Female · ≥18y
11.6 – 14.8 g/dL
T
Turkey Nationwide Reference Intervals
Male · ≥18y
13.1 – 17.5 g/dL
T
Turkey Nationwide Reference Intervals
Female · ≥18y
11 – 15.2 g/dL
Ages 0–17 (CALIPER)
5 age- and sex-stratified entries from the Canadian Laboratory Initiative on Pediatric Reference Intervals.
SOURCE
SEX
AGE
RANGE
VISUAL
CITE
About Hemoglobin (Hgb)
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. If your hemoglobin levels are abnormal, it may be a sign that you have a blood disorder.
Your health care provider may order the test as part of a routine exam. You may also need this test to monitor the treatment of anemia or other health conditions that could affect your hemoglobin level.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Useful for
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.
Hemoglobin can also be checked to monitor people getting treatments that affect the bone marrow, such as chemotherapy or radiation, or to follow the response to treatment for anemia.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Interpretation
Your results will compare your hemoglobin level to the normal range, which may be called the reference range. This range may vary, based on the laboratory used and your age, race, and sex. The test can't tell you what's causing an abnormal level. But knowing how high or low your hemoglobin level is can help your provider determine how severe your condition may be.
A low hemoglobin level may be a sign of anemia from causes such as iron, vitamin B12, or folate deficiency, blood loss, kidney disease, chronic illness, or a problem with the bone marrow. Other tests, such as the size and shape of your red blood cells, can help point to the cause.
A high hemoglobin level may be linked to dehydration, smoking, living at high altitude, certain heart or lung diseases, or, less often, a bone marrow disorder called polycythemia.
Your hemoglobin levels may not be in the reference range for many reasons. Talk with your provider about what your specific results mean for you.
For general wellness information only. Talk to a clinician about your specific results.
Main source: MedlinePlus ↗
Track your hemoglobin (hgb) in MyBloodTest
Save reviewed lab results and follow their history. Scanning requires sign-in and has plan-specific limits.
Open the web app
iOS · Android · Web
Related biomarkers
More tests in the blood category.
Sources
M
Mayo Clinic Laboratories
L
Labcorp
W
World Health Organization
N
Nordic Reference Interval Project
U
UK Pathology Harmony
J
JSCC / JAMT Japan
T
Turkey Nationwide Reference Intervals
C
CALIPER: Canadian Pediatric Reference Intervals
Last updated 2026-05-02
This page presents source-specific reference data and sourced explanations. For general wellness information only. This is not medical advice. For diagnosis or treatment of any condition, talk to a qualified clinician.