MICROCHROMATOGRAPHIC QUANTITATION OF HEMOGLOBIN-A LEVELS IN PHENOTYPES OF SICKLE-CELL BETA(+) THALASSEMIA

The inheritance of the sickle cell gene in combination with a gene for beta(+) thalassemia results in a spectrum of sickle cell-beta(+) thal assemia syndromes with varying levels of hemoglobin A (HbA). Some seve re sickle cell-beta(+) thalassemia syndromes have small amounts of HbA , which may be difficult to quantitate in the presence of fetal hemogl obin. A microcolumn chromatographic method, using 0.5 M Tris-acetic ac id developers with varying pH values from 9.0 to 6.0, appears to adequ ately quantitate small amounts of HbA. This method is relatively simpl e and cheaper than high-performance liquid chromatography, a major con sideration in developing countries. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.