Hemin is used for the following applications:

• To study bacterial strains and growth conditions
• Used in short-term colony assays (the culture medium consists of hemin along with other components)
• Cell transfections

It may be used in β-hematin formation assay for analyzing the inhibitory activity of MMV (Medicines for Malaria Venture) Malaria Box compounds against the formation of β-hematin.

Hemin, the oxidized version of heme, is an iron-containing prosthetic group for a diverse group of proteins. Free heme, which can be released from hemoglobin following hemolysis, is pro-inflammatory and contributes to iron-derived reactive oxygen species. Free hemin levels may be upregulated in various pathological conditions and can contribute to various inflammatory conditions including vascular disorders, renal failure, and immune-mediated disorders.

Hemin may be used to study the expression and represson of heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) as well as the activity of HO-1. Hematin is the "X factor" required to grown Haemophilus influenzae.