Hb
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Hemoglobin |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Government & Politics, Sports |
| Also written | HB |
Hb has three meanings. The most common are Hemoglobin (laboratory test) and House Bill (political); it can also stand for Halfback.
Meanings of Hb at a glance
| # | Hb stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hemoglobin | Medical › Laboratory Test |
| 2 | House Bill | Government & Politics › Political |
| 3 | Halfback | Sports › American Football |
1. Hemoglobin
Medical · Laboratory Test Abbreviations
Standard scientific symbol for hemoglobin, used in research writing and in the names of hemoglobin variants: HbA (normal adult), HbA2, HbF (fetal), HbS (sickle) and HbC. Hemoglobin electrophoresis or high-performance liquid chromatography separates these variants to diagnose sickle cell disease and thalassemia.
Example: Electrophoresis showed HbS 38% and HbA 60%, consistent with sickle cell trait.
Each hemoglobin molecule has four globin chains (two alpha and two beta in HbA) and four iron-containing heme groups, so it can carry four oxygen molecules. The glycated fraction, HbA1c, is the basis of long-term diabetes monitoring. In Commonwealth countries a result written "Hb 118" is in g/L, equal to 11.8 g/dL.
2. House Bill (HB)
Government & Politics · Political Abbreviations
State-legislature prefix for bills introduced in a house of representatives or other lower chamber, followed by a number, as in "HB 2" or "H.B. 1557". Spacing and punctuation vary from state to state.
Example: Texas HB 3 requires an armed security officer at every public school campus.
Many states restart numbering each session, so a bill is identified by state, chamber, number and year. Controversial state bills are often known nationally by their numbers, such as North Carolina's HB2 of 2016 on restroom access. In Congress, House bills use the H.R. prefix instead.
3. Halfback (HB)
Sports · American Football Abbreviations
Ball-carrying back who lines up behind the quarterback, often as the deepest back in single-back sets or beside a fullback. Today halfback and running back are nearly interchangeable, and HB appears mostly on depth charts and in video game rosters.
Example: Madden lists him as the starting HB, with a 92 speed rating.
The name comes from early formations in which the halfback stood about halfway between the line and the deepest back. "Halfback" also names positions in rugby (scrum-half, fly-half) and was once a soccer term for midfielders. A "halfback option" is a trick play in which the halfback throws a pass.
Related abbreviations
More laboratory test abbreviations
- FT4 – Free thyroxine
- GFR – Glomerular filtration rate
- GGT – Gamma-glutamyl transferase
- H&H – Hemoglobin and hematocrit
- HbA1c – Hemoglobin A1c (glycated hemoglobin)
- hCG – Human chorionic gonadotropin
- HCO3 – Bicarbonate
- Hct – Hematocrit
See all 135 laboratory test abbreviations →
More political abbreviations
- H.J.Res. – House Joint Resolution
- H.R. – House of Representatives (bill prefix)
- H.Res. – House Resolution
- HASC – House Armed Services Committee
- HFC – House Freedom Caucus
- HPSCI – House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
- I – Independent (party label)
- IG – Inspector General
See all 91 political abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.