Haptoglobin (HP) Test
Reviewed
This test measures the amount of haptoglobin in your blood. Haptoglobin is a protein made by your liver to remove hemoglobin from your bloodstream. When red blood cells are damaged or break down faster than usual, haptoglobin levels drop.
Preparation and collection
You don't need any special preparations for a haptoglobin test.
Understanding this test
Use the reference interval and units printed by the laboratory that performed the test. A result outside that interval is not a diagnosis by itself, and a result inside it does not rule out every condition. Your symptoms, history, medicines, timing, and related tests can change what the result means.
- A low haptoglobin level is normal for infants less than six months old.
- Certain medicines may cause test results to be higher or lower than normal.
- Severe blood loss and conditions that worsen kidney function may also affect haptoglobin level results.
- High haptoglobin levels may be a sign of an inflammatory disease, but haptoglobin testing is not usually used to diagnose or monitor conditions related to high haptoglobin levels.
What to do next
Your provider will consider your symptoms, medical history, and the results of other blood tests to understand the results. Other blood tests that may be ordered include: reticulocyte count, hemoglobin test, hematocrit test, lactate dehydrogenase test, blood smear, and complete blood count. If you have questions about your results, talk to your provider.