Reference ranges
| Adult men | 13.0 – 17.0 g/dL |
| Adult women | 12.0 – 15.0 g/dL |
| Pregnancy | 11.0 g/dL and above |
| Children | 11.0 – 14.0 g/dL |
Reference ranges vary between laboratories and methods. Always read your result against the range printed on your own report.
Seek care urgently if
- Haemoglobin below 7 g/dL
- Breathlessness at rest
- Chest pain with a low result
- Rapid heartbeat at rest
- Low Hb in late pregnancy
- Ongoing visible bleeding
What a high result can mean
Dehydration
Concentrates the blood and raises the apparent value.
Smoking
Chronic carbon monoxide exposure drives higher haemoglobin.
Chronic lung disease
The body compensates for low oxygen.
Polycythaemia vera
Uncommon, but needs specialist assessment.
What a low result can mean
Iron deficiency
The leading cause worldwide and in Nigeria.
Malaria
A very common cause of acute drops.
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Frequently the underlying driver in women of reproductive age.
Sickle cell disease or trait complications
B12 or folate deficiency
Causes a different pattern of anaemia and needs different treatment.
Have your result in front of you?
Send us the value and we will tell you whether it needs an appointment or not. No account, no form.
Ask about my Haemoglobin resultNothing is stored on this website.
What happens next
Anaemia is a finding, not a diagnosis. The useful next step is establishing which type — iron deficiency, chronic disease or a marrow problem — because each is treated differently.
Full Blood Count Malaria & Typhoid Test Faecal Occult BloodOther results people look up
This page explains what a result can mean in general terms. It is not a diagnosis and cannot account for your history, medication or examination. All visits to Mascot Healthcare are by appointment — Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM, 52 Sholanke Street, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.