Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase test

A blood sample is needed.

No special preparation is usually necessary.

When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or a slight bruise. This soon goes away.

Your health care provider may recommend this test if you have signs of G6PD deficiency . This means you do not have enough G6PD activity. Too little G6PD activity leads to the destruction of red blood cells. This process is called hemolysis . When this process is actively occurring, it is called a hemolytic episode.…

Normal values vary and depend upon the laboratory used. Some labs use different measurements or test different samples. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.

Abnormal results mean you have a G6PD deficiency. This can cause hemolytic anemia in certain conditions.

There is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining a blood sample from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may…

Gallagher PG. Hemolytic anemias: red blood cell membrane and metabolic defects. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap147. Kaplan M, Wong RJ, Bensen R, Sibley E, Stevenson DK. Neonatal jaundice and liver disease. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, eds. Fanaroff…