CORD BLOOD SCREENING FOR HEMOGLOBIN ABNORMALITIES BY THIN-LAYER ISOELECTRIC-FOCUSING

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (6) , 1068-1071
Abstract
Hb variants can be successfully identified in cord blood samples. The methods most commonly used include cellulose acetate (CAC) and citrate agar (CAG) electrophoresis. Thin layer isoelectric focusing (TLIF) has been shown to be an excellent method for identifying Hb variants. To determine the applicability of TLIF for cord blood screening, the results of 835 samples obtained by TLIF were compared with that obtained by CAC, CAG and the combination of both CAC and CAG. In 100 of these samples an abnormal Hb pattern was detected using TLIF. Only 80 abnormal samples were detected by CAC, 70 by CAG, and 80 by using the combination of CAC and CAG. Due to the increased resolution provided by TLIF, 2 sickle cell trait samples were correctly diagnosed by TLIF that were incorrectly suspected to be homozygous for sickle cell disease by CAC and CAG. Samples containing Hb Bart''s by TLIF in contrast to only 21 using CAC and 14 using CAG. The time and cost of TLIF was comparable to that using the combination of both methods. TLIF is the method of choice for cord blood screening.