{"id":"hemoglobin-f","name":"Hemoglobin F (Fetal Hemoglobin)","shortName":"HbF","aliases":["HbF","Hemoglobin F","Fetal Hemoglobin","Hb F","Hemoglobin F (Fetal)","Hgb F","Hemoglobin F Quant","Fetal haemoglobin","Hemoglobina fetal","HbF %","Hemoglobin F Quantitation","Hemoglobin F, Quantitative","Hgb F %","Hemoglobin F Percent","Hemoglobin F (HPLC)","Fetal Hb"],"abbreviations":["HbF","Hb F","HGB F","Hgb F"],"loinc":[{"code":"4576-5","primary":true},{"code":"32682-7","primary":false},{"code":"42246-9","primary":false}],"specimen":"whole-blood","units":[{"ucum":"%","display":"%"}],"referenceRanges":[{"population":"2+","low":0,"high":2.1,"unit":"%","unitDisplay":"%","note":"ARUP (HPLC) gives 0.0–2.1% for ages 2 and over. Mayo Clinic Laboratories (capillary electrophoresis) gives 0.0–0.9% from 24 months, and the University of Iowa gives 2% or less after 1 year. A review of adult HbF puts the usual level below 0.6% of total hemoglobin. In beta-thalassemia trait the AAFP review lists HbF of 0.1% to 5%, and the NHS England antenatal programme flags HbF of 10% or more (5.0% or more when MCH is under 27 pg). Methods and labs differ, so use the range printed on your own report.","sources":[{"title":"Hemoglobin Evaluation by HPLC With Reflex to Electrophoresis and/or RBC Solubility (test 3017101)","url":"https://ltd.aruplab.com/Tests/Pub/3017101","publisher":"ARUP Laboratories"},{"title":"Hemoglobin Variant, A2 and F Quantitation, Blood (test HGBCE)","url":"https://www.testcatalog.org/show/HGBCE","publisher":"Mayo Clinic Laboratories"},{"title":"Hemoglobin Evaluation, Quantitation with Interpretation (Pathology Handbook)","url":"https://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/path_handbook/handbook/test969.html","publisher":"University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics"},{"title":"Fetal hemoglobin levels in adults","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7534152/","publisher":"Blood Reviews","year":1994},{"title":"Alpha- and Beta-thalassemia: Rapid Evidence Review","url":"https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2022/0300/p272.html","publisher":"American Family Physician","year":2022},{"title":"Sickle cell and thalassaemia screening: laboratory handbook, Antenatal screening (updated 10 October 2024)","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sct-screening-handbook-for-antenatal-laboratories/antenatal-screening","publisher":"NHS England (NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme)","year":2024}]}],"review":{"status":"ai-verified","label":"AI-verified against cited sources. Awaiting expert review","lastReviewed":"2026-10-03"},"summary":"The share of your hemoglobin that is the fetal type, HbF. It is high in newborns and falls to a very low level after the first two years.","url":"https://bloodtesttracker.com/markers/hemoglobin-f","notice":"Information, not medical advice. Ranges differ between labs, so the range on your own report is the one your result is judged against."}