BLOOD STUDIES Lab Tests

A hemoglobin test is a common blood test that measures the amount of hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body and returning carbon dioxide back to the lungs. 🔬 Why It's Done: Doctors order this test to: Check for anemia (low hemoglobin) Monitor a known blood disorder (e.g. sickle cell, thalassemia) Assess general health as part of a complete blood count (CBC) Check for polycythemia (high hemoglobin) 📉 Normal Hemoglobin Ranges: These values can vary slightly between labs: Group Normal Range (g/dL) Men 13.8 – 17.2 Women 12.1 – 15.1 Children 11.0 – 16.0 Pregnant women 11.0 – 12.0 (lower) 🔻 Low Hemoglobin (Anemia) Causes: Iron deficiency Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency Chronic diseases (kidney, cancer) Blood loss (injury, menstruation) Bone marrow problems 🔺 High Hemoglobin Causes: Dehydration Lung or heart disease Living at high altitudes Smoking Polycythemia vera (a bone marrow disorder) 🧪 How the Test Is Done: A healthcare provider draws a blood sample from your arm. No fasting or special preparation is usually needed (unless part of a broader test panel).

Fibrinogen is a blood plasma protein that's essential for blood clotting (coagulation). It's also known as Factor I in the coagulation cascade. When you're injured, fibrinogen is converted by thrombin into fibrin, which forms a mesh-like clot to stop bleeding. 🧪 What Is a Fibrinogen Test? A fibrinogen blood test measures the amount of fibrinogen in your blood. It may be ordered as: Functional fibrinogen test (measures clotting ability) Antigenic fibrinogen test (measures fibrinogen concentration) 📊 Normal Fibrinogen Range: Group Normal Range Adults 200 – 400 mg/dL (2.0 – 4.0 g/L) Pregnant women Can be slightly higher (up to ~600 mg/dL) 🔻 Low Fibrinogen (Hypofibrinogenemia): May indicate: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) Liver disease (fibrinogen is made in the liver) Severe malnutrition Fibrinolysis (excessive clot breakdown) Genetic deficiency (rare) 🩸 Risk: Increased bleeding or poor wound healing. 🔺 High Fibrinogen (Hyperfibrinogenemia): Often due to: Inflammation or infection (it's an acute phase reactant) Pregnancy Smoking Obesity Cancer Heart disease risk 💥 High fibrinogen can increase blood clot risk (e.g. heart attack, stroke, DVT). 🩺 When Is the Test Ordered? A doctor might request it to: Investigate unexplained bleeding or clotting Monitor DIC Assess liver function Evaluate inflammation Predict cardiovascular disease risk