What is the G6PD test?
What Is the G6PD Test? The G6PD test is a blood test that measures how much of this enzyme you have in your blood. If you have low amounts, you have a condition called G6PD deficiency. What Is G6PD Deficiency? G6PD deficiency is a hereditary condition caused by a mutation, or a change, in your G6PD gene. This gene tells your body to make the G6PD enzyme, so a mutation will lower the amount of this useful protein in your body. Click Here - What is Ferritin? Not everyone who has G6PD deficiency has other health problems. The deficiency alone is not enough to cause anemia or problems with your red blood cells. However, individuals who already have this mutation can have new symptoms triggered by outside sources. These triggers raise the number of reactive oxygen species in your body. When you have an increase in compounds and not enough G6PD to clear them, you can get sick. These triggers include: Eating fava beans Inhaling pollen from a fava pla...