Hemoglobin levels in children from a biracial southern community.

Hemoglobin levels were determined for 4,081 children, ages 2 1/2-14 years, from a biracial southern community. Back children had lower levels of hemoglobin than white children at every age interval with a mean difference of 0.64 gm/dl. This diffence persisted even when comparing children from similar socioeconomic level households. If black children maintain lower hemoglobin levels consistent with optimum health than do white children, then different hemoglobin standards may be warranted for each race.