Hemoglobin

The major function of the RBC is to transport hemoglobin,which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and CO2that results from tissue’s metabolism to the lungs

Normal values

- Hemoglobin concentration measurement is among the most commonlyperformed blood tests, usually as part of a complete blood count. • Men: 13.5 - 16.5 g/dl • Women: 12.0 - 15.0 g/dl • Children: 11 - 16 g/dl • Pregnant women: 11 - 12 g/dl

- Polycytemia : a condition charactezized by higher values of Hgb (no more than34g/dl)- physiological : living at high altitudes, effort, after meals,stress.- pathological: -red marrow malignancy: POLYCYTEMIA VERA-chronic pulmonar diseases ( great smokers)- heart diseases (atrial septal defect)- Anemia : a medical condition in which the hemoglobin is less than normal

Common Causes of AnemiaMechanism Examples

1. Excessive bleeding Bladder tumors Cancer in the digestive tract Chronic Heavy menstrual bleeding Nosebleeds Ulcers in the stomach or small intestine Injuries,A ruptured blood vessel

Acute Childbirth Surgery

2.Decreased red blood cell production Folate, Iron,Vitamin B12 deficiencyChronic disordersMyelodysplasia-abnormalities in bone marrow tissue3. Increased red blood cell destruction Autoimmune reactions against red blood cellsAn enlarged spleenHereditary spherocytosisParoxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Principle

The color of chlorhemin solution from a blood sample iscompared with the standard chlorhemin solution of

SHALIhemometer.

Hemoglobin + HCl chlorhemin

dark-brown colored substance(stabile)

Materials

- cotton , alchohol, sterile lancets,- Sahli hemometer: -2 tubes - the standard color tube

- the tube used for the experiments

- the tubes are marked from the base to the bottom inpercents and g%- g/dl. ( 100%=

16g%)- HCl solution N/10- Distilled water- Plastic sticks

Practical steps:

- Put HCl solution N/10 into the tube until the 2 mark;

- Add 20 mm3 of capilar blood in the tube and stir it well (with the stick) ;

- Wait for 5 minutes and you will obtain chlorhemin ( a darkbrown solution);

- Add distilled water drop by drop and stir with the stick;

- When the colour of the sample is simillary with the colourof the standard tube find the value of the hemoglobin byreading directly at the base of the surface meniscus.