Laboratory Diagnostic Tests

HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION

Hemoglobin (Hb) is determined by the standard cyanmethemoglobin method.
By mixing the blood and Drabkin’s solution, hemoglobins (oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, and methemoglobin) are released from erythrocytes.
Erythrocytes contain a mixture of hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin, and minor amounts of other hemoglobin forms. It is necessary to prepare a stable derivative of all the forms of hemoglobin in blood in order to measure this compound accurately.
The Fe(II) of hemoglobin is oxidized to Fe(III) by ferricyanide and then converted into stable cyanmethemoglobin by the addition of KCN where HbFe(II) represents hemoglobin; HbFe(III), methemoglobin; and HbFe(III)CN, cyanmethemoglobin. Cyanmethemoglobin can be measured accurately on a photometer by its absorbance at 540 nm.

Reference values of hemoglobin in a healthy population are: