What It Measures#
The Hemoglobin (Hb) Test measures the concentration of haemoglobin in your blood. Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein inside red blood cells that binds to oxygen in the lungs and delivers it to every tissue and organ in your body.
Haemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide from tissues back to the lungs for exhalation. It is what gives blood its red colour.
Low haemoglobin (anaemia) means your body is not getting enough oxygen, leading to fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. India has one of the highest anaemia burdens in the world — according to NFHS-5 data, 57% of Indian women and 25% of Indian men aged 15–49 are anaemic.
The Hb test is usually part of a Complete Blood Count (CBC) but can also be ordered as a standalone screening test.
Who Should Get Tested#
- Women of reproductive age — due to menstrual blood loss and pregnancy demands.
- Pregnant women — at each trimester; WHO recommends Hb ≥ 11 g/dL in pregnancy.
- Children aged 6 months–5 years — critical period for brain development.
- Elderly adults — anaemia of chronic disease is common.
- Anyone with fatigue, pallor (pale skin, pale nail beds), breathlessness, or dizziness.
- Before any planned surgery — to assess fitness for anaesthesia.
- Regular blood donors.
How to Prepare#
- No fasting required.
- No special preparation is needed.
- Stay hydrated — dehydration can falsely elevate haemoglobin by concentrating the blood.
- Inform your doctor about recent blood loss, transfusions, or iron/B12 supplementation.
Understanding Your Results#
| Group | Normal Hb (g/dL) | Mild Anaemia | Moderate | Severe | |-------|-------------------|-------------|----------|--------| | Men | 13–17 | 11–12.9 | 8–10.9 | < 8 | | Women (non-pregnant) | 12–15 | 11–11.9 | 8–10.9 | < 8 | | Pregnant women | ≥ 11 | 10–10.9 | 7–9.9 | < 7 | | Children (6 mo–5 yr) | ≥ 11 | 10–10.9 | 7–9.9 | < 7 |
Common causes of low Hb in India:
- Iron deficiency — by far the most common cause; investigate with iron studies.
- Vitamin B12 / folate deficiency — especially in vegetarians. See Vitamin B12 Test.
- Thalassaemia trait — common in certain Indian communities; diagnosed with Hb electrophoresis.
- Chronic disease — kidney disease, cancer, infections.
High haemoglobin (> 17 g/dL in men, > 15 g/dL in women) can indicate dehydration, polycythaemia vera, chronic lung disease, or living at high altitude.
Related Tests#
- CBC — provides Hb along with RBC indices, WBC, and platelet counts.
- Iron Studies — identifies iron-deficiency anaemia.
- Vitamin B12 Test — rules out megaloblastic anaemia.
- Kidney Function Test — anaemia is common in CKD due to reduced erythropoietin.
Booking & Home Collection#
Book a haemoglobin test on PingMeDoc with home sample collection. No fasting needed. Quick results within 4–6 hours. Also available as part of our comprehensive health check-up packages.