Influence of Hemoglobin Phenotype on the Mean Erythrocyte Volume

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Abstract
The influence of the Hb phenotype on mean erythrocyte volume was reexamined in the light of evidence indicating a poor correlation between manual and more precise automated methods of measurement. A 17.6% frequency of microcytosis in a population of nonanemic black males was identified here, a value higher than previously appreciated. The frequency of microcytosis was also a function of the Hb phenotype. Thus, 9.4% of Hb AA, 18.6% of AS and 26.5% of AC subjects had microcytic erythrocytes. Both the .alpha.-gene complement and the .beta.-chain phenotype may contribute to the erythrocytic mean corpuscular volume. The frequency of microcytosis in a patient population apparently is a function of both of these variables.