Kabtafer Plus Medical Team · Last reviewed: 11 October 2026
Based on: WHO haemoglobin cut-offs (2024), WHO ferritin guideline (2020), NIH Office of Dietary Supplements and the British Society of Gastroenterology guideline (2021).
The short answer
Type the numbers from your lab report below. The checker compares them with the World Health Organization cut-offs and tells you, in plain words, whether they point to anemia, low iron stores, or a pattern your doctor may want to check for thalassemia trait. It does not diagnose anything and nothing you type leaves your phone.
Private: the calculation runs in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored.
How the checker works
The checker applies published thresholds only. It uses the WHO 2024 haemoglobin cut-offs for your group, the WHO 2020 ferritin cut-offs (below 15 µg/L, or below 70 µg/L with infection or inflammation), the practical clinical cut-off of 30 ng/mL used by the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, and the Mentzer index (MCV ÷ RBC) as a hint for thalassemia trait. Your laboratory's own reference ranges always take precedence.
| Group | Anemia if hemoglobin is below |
|---|---|
| Non-pregnant women (15–65) | 12.0 g/dL |
| Men (15–65) | 13.0 g/dL |
| Pregnancy, 1st trimester | 11.0 g/dL |
| Pregnancy, 2nd trimester | 10.5 g/dL |
| Pregnancy, 3rd trimester | 11.0 g/dL |
| Ages 12–14 | 12.0 g/dL |
For a full explanation of every number on the report, read Your anemia blood test explained. For anemia in pregnancy, see WHO limits by trimester.
Frequently asked questions
Is my data saved anywhere?
No. The calculation runs inside your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or stored.
Can this tool diagnose anemia or thalassemia?
No. It explains how your numbers compare with published cut-offs. Only a doctor can diagnose the type and cause of anemia, and thalassemia trait is confirmed with hemoglobin electrophoresis and iron studies.
My hemoglobin is normal but ferritin is low. Is that a problem?
It can be. Iron stores fall before hemoglobin does, so low ferritin with a normal blood count is common, especially in women with heavy periods. Discuss it with your doctor; see heavy periods and low ferritin.
Why does infection change the ferritin result?
Ferritin rises during infection and inflammation, so it can look normal even when iron stores are low. That is why WHO uses a higher cut-off (below 70 µg/L) in that situation.
Sources
- World Health Organization. Guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia in individuals and populations. 2024. who.int
- World Health Organization. WHO guideline on use of ferritin concentrations to assess iron status in individuals and populations. 2020. NCBI Bookshelf
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Iron — Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. ods.od.nih.gov
- Snook J, et al. British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the management of iron deficiency anaemia in adults. Gut 2021;70:2030–2051. gut.bmj.com
- StatPearls. Beta Thalassemia. NCBI Bookshelf
- Mentzer WC. Differentiation of iron deficiency from thalassaemia trait. Lancet 1973;1(7808):882.
This tool is for general education and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.