HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES DETECTED BY CBC ANALYSIS AND HPLC HEMOGLOBIN-A(1C ANALYSIS

We report a series of 13 patients with unlysed red blood cells (''RBC clouds'') on white blood cell scattergrams produced by the Sysmex NE80 00 and 29 patients with abnormal hemoglobin peaks on hemoglobin A1c (H bA1c) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Of the 1 3 patients noted to have RBC clouds, S were previously undiagnosed, 4 were diagnosed, 1 was suspected of having a hemoglobinopathy, and 3 ba d liver disease with no hemoglobinopathy detected. Abnormal hemoglobin peaks were detected in 26 patients with previously undiagnosed abnorm al hemoglobins by HPLC HbA1c analysis. Thus, careful analysis of commo nly ordered screening and monitoring tests such as complete blood coun t and HbA1c measurements in diabetic patients can reveal other abnorma lities, primarily the detection of hemoglobinopathies.