Hemoglobin

Abbreviation: Hb

Panel: Complete Blood Count (CBC) · All complete blood count tests

Typical adult reference range

Conventional unitsMale 13.5–17.5; Female 12.0–15.5 g/dL
SI unitsMale 135–175; Female 120–155 g/L

Ranges vary between laboratories and methods — compare your result with the range printed on your own report.

What a high or low result can mean

High hemoglobin: high values can be seen in dehydration, chronic low oxygen states, and some bone marrow disorders.

Low hemoglobin: low values may occur with blood loss, iron or vitamin deficiency, or chronic disease.

These are associations, not a diagnosis: the same result can have several causes, and your clinician interprets it with the rest of your results and history.

Please note: Reference ranges vary between laboratories, and between the methods and instruments they use — the range printed on your own report is the one your result should be compared with. A result outside the range is not by itself a diagnosis, and a result inside it does not rule out illness. These pages are an educational summary, not medical advice: always discuss your results with the clinician who ordered them, who can interpret them in the context of your health and history.