How to Test Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin is a protein, called heme, found in red blood cells. Heme binds to oxygen in the lungs, carries it throughout the body, gives freshly-oxygenated blood its red color, and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be expelled. The amount of hemoglobin is part of a routine test called a complete blood count (CBC). Normal hemoglobin for men measures about 13.5 to 17.5 grams per deciliter. The normal range for women is between 12.0 and 15.5 grams per deciliter.

Things You'll Need

• Antiseptic hand cleanser
• Water
• Sterile latex or latex-free disposable gloves sized to fit
• Hospital grade antiseptic cleanser
• Sterile gauze pads, or individually packaged, antiseptic cleansing pads
• Elastic tubing tourniquet
• Blood collection kit with needles and vials, or lancet with test strip, Microscope slide, or pipette
• First aid tape or sterile adhesive bandage
• Automated blood testing machine (blood analyzer) with supplies

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Instructions

Blood Draw Method

• 1

  Wash your hands with an antiseptic cleanser according to posted hospital procedures. After your hands have dried, put on sterile latex or latex-free disposable gloves.

• 2

  Clean the blood draw site on the inside of the individual's elbow or back of the hand with a hospital grade antiseptic and gauze pad, or use an individually packaged antiseptic cleansing pad, to kill germs. Tie the tourniquet around the upper arm to encourage veins to swell with blood. Instruct the individual to make a fist, if needed, to make veins easier to see, and to make it easier to draw blood.

• 3

  Insert the needle into the individual's vein and attach the collection vial. Blood will fill the vial. New vials can be attached to the needle until enough samples are collected.

• 4

  Untie and remove the tourniquet. Place a sterile gauze pad over the draw site and gently remove the needle. Apply gentle pressure and cover the site with another sterile gauze pad secured with first aid tape, or use a sterile adhesive bandage.

• 5

  Place the blood samples into the automated blood blood analyzer according to that particular equipment's directions. The analyzer breaks down the red blood cells in the blood, making the hemoglobin into a solution. A chemical is added that binds with the hemoglobin to make it easier for the machine to detect. Light shines through the solution and a hemoglobin count is taken based on the amount of light absorbed.

Lancet Method

• 6

  Wash your hands with an antiseptic cleanser according to posted hospital procedures. After your hands have dried, put on sterile latex or latex-free disposable gloves.

• 7

  Clean the area of the heel or finger where the blood sample will be taken using the hospital grade antiseptic cleanser and sterile gauze pads, or the individually packed, antiseptic cleaning cloths. Push the lancet carefully into the skin. Apply blood to a test strip or microscope slide, or collect it in a small tube.

• 8

  Cover the site with a sterile gauze pad and apply light pressure to stop any bleeding. Replace the gauze pad with another sterile gauze pad and secure with first aid tape, or use a sterile adhesive bandage.

• 9

  Place the blood samples into the automated blood testing machine according to that particular equipment's directions. The testing machine breaks down the red blood cells in the blood, making the hemoglobin into a solution. Light shines through the solution and a hemoglobin count is taken based on the amount of light absorbed.