Haemoglobin is a protein in the red blood cells. The haemoglobin’s task is to carry oxygen to all the tiny cells of the body that make up organs. All cells of the body need oxygen. Haemoglobin gives blood its red colour when it carries oxygen from the lungs. There are lots of different haemoglobin types found in people around the world. Everybody inherits one haemoglobin gene from their mum and one gene from their dad.
The letters Hb stand for haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is made up of two parts: one cell hemo is made up of iron the other is called globin which is protein that joins to the hemo; it contains alpha and beta chains.
If you have sickle cell the Beta chain is affected.
When you get your blood results it will show, for example: AS , ABS or (ASS which is the full blown sickle cell disorder)
Letter A shows your usual type of haemoglobin
Letter S shows your unusual (sickle cell) type of haemoglobin.
