What is the serum hemoglobin test?
Normally, all the hemoglobin in your body is in the red blood cells... However, some conditions may cause some hemoglobin to be found in your blood serum... The hemoglobin in the blood serum is called free hemoglobin... The serum hemoglobin test measures the amount of this free hemoglobin.
Doctors usually use this test to diagnose or check for abnormal breakdown of red blood cells.... If you have recently received blood, you can check for transfusion reactions with this test.... Hemolytic anemia can be another cause of abnormal breakdown of red blood cells.... If you have this type of anemia, your red blood cells break down quickly.>
Sometimes this test is called a blood hemoglobin test.
Why is the serum hemoglobin test prescribed?
If you have symptoms of hemolytic anemia, your doctor may order a serum hemoglobin test. Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells break down too quickly and the bone marrow cannot replace new red blood cells fast enough.
If you are currently suffering from hemolytic anemia, your doctor may also order this test.... In this case, a serum hemoglobin test can help your doctor check your condition.
Read more: What is a blood lead test?
What is hemolytic anemia?
There are two types of hemolytic anemia.
1... External hemolytic anemia
In extrinsic hemolytic anemia, your body naturally produces healthy red blood cells... but these blood cells are quickly destroyed by infection, an autoimmune disorder, or a certain type of cancer.
2.... internal hemolytic anemia
In intrinsic hemolytic anemia, red blood cells are defective and break down rapidly... Sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, congenital spherocyte anemia, and G6PD deficiency are diseases that lead to hemolytic anemia.
These two types of hemolytic anemia have the same symptoms.. But if your anemia has underlying conditions, it may have other symptoms.In the early stages of hemolytic anemia, you may feel the following:
- weakness
- dizziness
- confusion
- bad temper
- fatigue
You may also experience headaches.
As hemolytic anemia progresses, symptoms become more serious....your skin may turn yellow or appear pale....the whites of your eyes may turn blue or yellow....Other symptoms include:
- brittle nails
- (Increased heart rate or heart murmur)
- Dark urine
- Enlargement of the spleen
- Enlargement of the liver
- Painful tongue
How is the serum hemoglobin test performed?
To perform this test, a blood sample must be taken from your hand or arm. This process usually takes a few minutes:
- Your health care provider will apply some antiseptic to the sampling site.
- Then by tying an elastic band around the arm, the amount of blood flow in the veins will increase and your veins will stand out....this will make it easier to find the veins.
- Next, a needle is inserted into your vein... After the vein is punctured, the blood is drawn through the needle into a small tube connected to the needle... You may feel a slight pain when the needle is inserted, but the test itself is not painful.
- When enough blood is collected, the needle is removed and a sterile bandage is placed over the sampling site.
Then the collected blood is sent to the laboratory for testing.
serum hemoglobin test results
Natural results
Serum hemoglobin is measured as the amount of hemoglobin (grams) per deciliter of blood (mg/dL). Test results are variable, so your doctor will help you determine if the results are normal or not..
Abnormal results
High levels of hemoglobin in the serum are usually a sign of hemolytic anemia... Some of the things that can cause abnormal breakdown of red blood cells are:
- Sickle cell anemia: is a genetic abnormality that causes red blood cells to stiffen and have an abnormal shape.
- G6PD deficiency: When your body does not produce enough of the enzyme to produce red blood cells.
- Hemoglobin C disease: A genetic disorder that leads to the production of abnormal hemoglobin.
- Thalassemia: A genetic disorder that affects your body's ability to produce normal hemoglobin.
- Congenital spherocyte anemia: Disorder in red blood cell membrane
If your test result is abnormal, your healthcare provider will likely order additional tests to determine the exact cause of hemolytic anemia. These tests may include blood or urine samples or a bone marrow test.
Dangers of serum hemoglobin test
The risks of this test only include the risks of taking a blood sample. For example, when the sampling needle is inserted into your body, you will probably experience mild pain. You may have some bleeding or bruising at the sampling site after the needle is removed.
More serious consequences such as severe bleeding, fainting, or infection at the sampling site rarely occur.
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