DETECTION OF HEMOGLOBIN-VARIANTS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF BETA-THALASSEMIA AND OTHER HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES USING ANION-EXCHANGE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

We describe the precise identification, separation and quantitation of several. haemoglobin (Hb) variants such as Hbs A(2), A, F, S, E, J, H , D-Punjab and Q-India in untransfused patients with beta thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies prevalent in the Indian population usin g whole blood (5 mu l), red cell lysates (2 mu l) or dried blood speci mens on filter paper, using a. conventional anion exchange high perfor mance liquid chromatography (AX-HPLC) system. Samples were simultaneou sly studied for the presence of haemoglobin variants by alkaline elect rophoresis. The problems in analysing rare variants and separating the closely migrating variants, encountered in the conventional methods c ould be resolved using the HPLC technique.