FAQ Regarding Hemoglobin Testing

In this section . . .

• How often does the WV WIC Program perform hematological testing?

• What hemoglobin values are considered by WIC to be abnormal and/or high risk?

• How can a physician receive a patient's hemoglobin value?

• Can WIC use a physician's hemoglobin value?
   

How often does the WV WIC Program perform hematological testing?

WIC performs hematological testing to obtain a hemoglobin value during the initial certification visit for each WIC applicant.

• Pregnant women are tested once during their certification.
• Breastfeeding women are tested during their certification as a breastfeeding.
• Postpartum women are tested once during their certification as postpartum.
• Infants are not tested before 9 months of age.  If the first test is normal, the infant will not be tested again until 6 months later.
• Children are tested once a year.

Any participant with a hemoglobin value that is not within normal limits will be tested again by WIC within 90 days, unless the health care provider sends WIC a value that is taken within those 60 days and shows an improved value.

Any participant with a hemoglobin value that WV WIC considers to be high risk will be sent immediately to the health care provider.

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What hemoglobin values are considered by WIC to be abnormal and/or high risk?

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How can a physician receive a patient's hemoglobin value?

A physician may receive a patient's hemoglobin value from WIC in several ways.

• WIC will send abnormal hemoglobin values to the physician when the value is considered to be high risk by WIC or when the value remains abnormal after 90 days during the follow-up visit.
• The physician may send a release form signed by the participant or parent/guardian to WIC to provide the hemoglobin value.
• The physician may use the hemoglobin value on the WV WIC Program Record of Measurements card that is given to the participant or parent/guardian during the WIC clinic visit.

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Can WIC use a physician's hemoglobin value?

WIC can use a hemoglobin value taken by the health care provider when the value and date are provided by the physician's office.

The hemoglobin value must be no older than 60 days before the WIC certification visit or  90 days of the follow-up visit for an abnormal value.

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