The reference range of hemoglobin is:
Conventional Units
Men: 14-17.5 g/dL
Women: 12.3-15.3 g/dL
SI Units
Men: 140-175 g/L
Women: 123-153 g/L
The hemoglobin numbers usually mirror the RBC result, provide added information.
A low value of hemoglobin is known as anemia and can indicate:
- Acute or chronic bleeding
- RBC destruction (e.g., hemolytic anemia, etc.)
- Nutritional deficiency (e.g., iron deficiency, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency)
- Bone marrow disorders or damage
- Chronic inflammatory disease
- Chronic kidney disease
A high value of hemoglobin is known as polycythemia and can indicate:
- Dehydration
- Lung (pulmonary) disease
- Kidney or other tumor that produces excess erythropoietin
- Smoking
- Living at high altitude
- Genetic causes (altered oxygen sensing, abnormality in hemoglobin oxygen release)
- Polycythemia vera—a rare disease
