The Hb molecule is a tetramer composed of 2 alpha and 2 beta chains.

(i.e., the MCHC is 33%).
    Traditionally, hemoglobin is measured using the cyanmethemoglobin method. To measure the hemoglobin concentration, a lysing agent is added to a sample of diluted blood; the lysing agent disrupts all the red cells in the sample and releases the hemoglobin into the fluid so that the sample then consists of a solution of hemoglobin. The hemoglobin is converted to a form called cyanomethemoglobin and the concentration is read by a spectrophotometer with the wavelength set at the peak absorbance of cyanomethemoglobin. The concentration of hemoglobin is then calculated from the optical density of the solution. Conditions which cause turbidity in the lysate used in this assay, such as lipemia, Heinz bodies, or red cell nuclei (avian, reptilian blood) can result in falsely high absorbance and hence, overestimation of the [Hb]. Remember that hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, like Oxyglobin, are red and are measured as hemoglobin with the cyanmethemoglobin method. This will always result in a high Hgb (compared to the HCT).

The Advia also measures the hemoglobin content within the cell directly, based on the complexity of the cell (which alters light scattering). This value can be more accurate than traditional methods of measuring hemoglobin, especially in conditions that artifactively increase hemoglobin concentrations, including oxyglobin (see above). The Advia demonstrates this hemoglobin concentration graphically in a histogram (see image on right). The histogram represents the distribution of red blood cells by cellular hemoglobin concentration (ranging from 0 to 50 g/dL). It demonstrates small populations of cells with high (hyperchromic) or low hemoglobin (hypochromic) content, even before there are changes in the mean hemoglobin concentration. For example, in early iron deficiency, a second population of red cells with low hemoglobin (hypochromic) may be seen to the right of the general population of red cells that contain normal amounts of hemoglobin (normochromic) before any changes in mean hemoglobin concentration are evident (see below).