II. Physiology
- See Red Blood Cell Physiology
- Images
III. Interpretation: Normal Values per age (-2 to +2 S.D)
- Birth: 13.5 to 24.0 g/dl (mean 16.5 g/dl)
- Age <1 month: 10.0 to 20.0 g/dl (mean 13.9 g/dl)
- Age 1-2 months: 10.0 to 18.0 g/dl (mean 11.2 g/dl)
- Age 2-6 months: 9.5 to 14.0 g/dl (mean 12.6 g/dl)
- Age 0.5 to 2 years: 10.5 to 13.5 g/dl (mean 12.0 g/dl)
- Age 2 to 6 years: 11.5 to 13.5 g/dl (mean 12.5 g/dl)
- Age 6-12 years: 11.5 to 15.5 g/dl (mean 13.5)
- Male
- Age 12-18 years: 13.0 to 16.0 g/dl (mean 14.5 g/dl)
- Age >18 years: 13.6 to 17.7 g/dl (mean 15.5 g/dl)
- Female
- Age 12-18 years: 12.0 to 16.0 g/dl (mean 14.0 g/dl)
- Age >18 years: 12.1 to 15.1 g/dl (mean 14.0 g/dl)
IV. Interpretation: Anemia Cut-offs
- Men and adolescent males
- Age 12-18 years: <13 g/dl (mean 14.5 g/dl)
- Age >18 years: <13 g/dl (WHO) or <13.5 g/dl (CDC)
- Women and adolescent girls (Non-pregnant, non-lactating)
- Age 12-18 years: <12 g/dl (mean 14 g/dl)
- Age >18 years: <12 g/dl (WHO and CDC)
- Women in Pregnancy (CDC Guidelines <5th percentile)
- First Trimester: <11.0 g/dl
- Second Trimester: <10.5 g/dl
- Third Trimester: <11.0 g/dl
- Children (CDC Guidelines <5th percentile)
- Age 1-2 years: <10.5 g/dl
- Age 2-6 years: <11.5 g/dl (mean 12.5 g/dl)
- Age 6-12 years: <11.5 g/dl (mean 13.5 g/dl)
- Infants (2 S.D. below mean)
- Term (cord blood): <13.5 g/dl (mean 16.5 g/dl)
- Newborn (1-3 days): <14.5 g/dl (mean 18.5 g/dl)
- Age 2 weeks: <13.4 g/dl (mean 16.6 g/dl)
- Age 1 month: <10.7 g/dl (mean 13.9 g/dl)
- Age 2 months: <9.4 g/dl (mean 11.2 g/dl)
- Age 6 months: <10.5 g/dl (mean 12 g/dl)
V. Causes: Increased Hemoglobin
- Polycythemia Vera
- Vigorous Exercise
- High altitude
VI. Causes: Decreased Hemoglobin
- See Anemia
VII. References
- Behrman (2000) Nelson Pediatrics, Saunders, p. 1462
- Flerlage (2015) Harriet Lane Handbook, Mosby, p. 305
- (1998) MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 47:1-29 [PubMed]
- Short (2013) Am Fam Physician 87(2): 98-104 [PubMed]
- Wang (2016) Am Fam Physician 93(4): 270-8 [PubMed]