Haemoglobin Screening
A haemoglobin screen is a blood-based service where we check the amount of haemoglobin in your blood from a small sample after a finger prick.
Haemoglobin is the coloured pigment inside red blood cells and it is responsible for carrying oxygen around the body to our tissues and organs. Levels in the blood are measured in grammes per 100ml (g/dL). Normal ranges varying slightly between testing labs but the ideal range for a man is 13.5 to 17.5g/dl and for a woman is 11.5 to 15.5g/dl. Anything less than these numbers is called anaemia.
As the haemoglobin level starts to fall, the body is very good at compensating. A person’s heart will beat faster and with more force, the lungs will increase the amount of air they move each minute to increase the amount of oxygen they deliver to the blood. The body also gets better at taking up oxygen into the red cells and releasing the oxygen where it is needed.
Many people can cope with slightly lower than normal haemoglobin levels, especially if they develop gradually. However, when the level drops too low or the levels stay lower for a prolonged period, we can start to feel tired, breathless and may start to run into problems with too little oxygen getting to important organs like the heart and brain. This can cause palpitations (tachycardia), chest pains (angina), headaches or dizzy spells.
Low haemoglobin levels can be corrected with something as simple as iron, folic acid or vitamin B12 supplementation but sometimes, your doctor may need to prescribe a different medicine for you. Our pharmacist will discuss this with you, if necessary. If you are constantly feeling tired or have low energy, get feelings of lightheadedness or feel like your heart is racing in your chest, a haemoglobin screen give some useful insight.
NOTE: A haemoglobin test is not a test for haemochromatosis. If you have a family history of this, you should get a ferritin level check with your GP.
The cost of this service is 20 euro.
