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Hemoglobin Abnormalities

Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells. Its job is to take oxygen from the lungs and distribute it to other parts of the body. Abnormalities in hemoglobin are inherited conditions.

  1. Normal Hemoglobin

    • Unlike abnormal hemoglobin, red blood cells with normal hemoglobin are soft and round. When a person inherits hemoglobin A from both parents, they have normal hemoglobin, which is categorized as AA.

    Abnormal Hemoglobin

    • According to WebMD, there are more than 400 different kinds of abnormal hemoglobin, but there are some common forms of abnormalities. Hemoglobin S, D and C are types of abnormalities found in people with sickle cell, a disease where the red blood cells are crescent shaped instead of round, making it difficult for the cells to pass easily through blood vessels. Hemoglobin H abnormalities are found in types of thalassemia, a disorder where red blood cells are destroyed, causing anemia.

    Testing

    • A blood test called a hemoglobin electrophoresis test is conducted to find abnormalities. An electrical current is applied to the drawn blood, and it divides the normal and abnormal hemoglobin. The speed in which the blood cells separate and the electrical charge they give off helps diagnose which hemoglobin abnormality you might have.

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