Low G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase): what it means
A G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) result below the normal range is considered low. Here is what a reduced G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) can point to, and when it is worth discussing with a doctor.
Reference range: ~6–20 U/g Hb; an enzyme that protects red cells — a low level (deficiency) causes red-cell breakdown when triggered by certain foods, drugs or infections
Understand your full resultWhat a low G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) can mean
- G6PD deficiency — the meaningful result; red cells are vulnerable to oxidative stress.
- Risk when triggered — fava beans, certain medicines (some antibiotics, antimalarials), and infections can cause haemolysis (anaemia, jaundice, dark urine).
- In newborns — can cause prolonged or severe jaundice.
When to discuss with a doctor
Knowing about G6PD deficiency matters mainly for prevention: someone with it should avoid fava beans and be cautious with specific medicines that can trigger haemolysis, and doctors and pharmacists check drug choices against it. It is worth testing in someone who has had unexplained haemolysis (sudden anaemia with jaundice and dark urine, especially after fava beans, a new medicine or an infection), in a newborn with severe jaundice, and for family screening. Testing is best done when well, a few weeks after any episode, to avoid a falsely normal result. If a trigger causes haemolysis, avoiding it and supportive care usually allow recovery. Mediora.AI shows G6PD alongside the haemolysis markers (haptoglobin, LDH, reticulocytes, bilirubin) so the pattern is read together; the interpretation belongs with your doctor.
Conditions this can relate to
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Upload your test - freeMediora.AI is informational - interpretation, not a diagnosis. A single out-of-range value is common and often benign; always discuss decisions with your doctor.