Iron and blood status
What is Haemoglobin (Hb)?
The oxygen-carrying protein in your blood
- Unit
- g/L
- Sample
- Whole blood
- Fasting
- No fasting needed
- Turnaround
- 1 day
Haemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells. It is the standard screen for anaemia and is affected by iron, B12, folate, bleeding, and chronic disease.
Haemoglobin binds oxygen in the lungs and carries it to the tissues. A low value means the blood carries less oxygen, producing symptoms like fatigue, breathlessness, dizziness, and pallor. The result is read alongside MCV, ferritin, and the rest of the blood count to identify the cause of any abnormality.
What does low Haemoglobin (Hb) mean?
Low Hb means anaemia. The most common causes are iron deficiency, B12 or folate deficiency, blood loss (including heavy periods), chronic inflammation, and kidney disease. The fatigue is often gradual and easy to miss without a test.
What does high Haemoglobin (Hb) mean?
High Hb is uncommon. It can reflect dehydration, time at altitude, smoking, or more rarely the rare blood disorder polycythaemia. A one-off elevation is rarely alarming but deserves a follow-up.
Panels that measure Haemoglobin (Hb)
- Iron Test Base
- Health Check Base
- Performance Test Base
- Kidney Test
- Menopause Test
- Joint Pain Test
- Performance Test Plus
- Vitamin Test Complete
- Health Check Plus
- Iron Test Complete
- Performance Test Complete
- Female Hormone Test Complete
- Stress Test Complete
- Health Check Complete
- Health Check Man
- Health Check Kvinna
Reading
- Tired all the time? The blood values that can explain why
- Trying for a baby: the blood tests worth taking first
- Men's health after 40: values worth following every year
- Low ferritin: what it means and why it shows before anaemia
- Normal TSH but still tired: what could be behind it?
- What is included in a blood test health check?
- Menopause or your thyroid: the symptoms that overlap and the blood tests that tell them apart
More markers in the same area
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This is general information about the marker, not an assessment of your values and not medical advice. Last updated: August 2026.