What test is used to measure the concentration of hemoglobin in blood?

The test that is specifically designed to measure the concentration of hemoglobin in blood is hemoglobin electrophoresis. This method separates different types of hemoglobin based on their electrical charge and allows for the quantification of each hemoglobin fraction, thereby providing a precise measurement of hemoglobin concentration as well as identifying abnormal hemoglobin variants. This can be particularly useful in diagnosing conditions such as sickle cell disease and thalassemias, which affect hemoglobin structure and concentration.

Other testing methods, while they may provide related information, do not specifically isolate and quantify hemoglobin concentration in the same manner. A complete blood count (CBC), for example, includes hemoglobin concentration as part of its broader assessment of blood components but does not specifically measure hemoglobin types or variants. Blood smear examinations provide visual information about red blood cells but do not quantify hemoglobin levels. A coagulation panel assesses the blood's ability to clot and is unrelated to hemoglobin measurement. Thus, hemoglobin electrophoresis is uniquely suited to determine not just the amount of hemoglobin but also its composition.