Refinement of plasma fetal hemoglobin (HbF) measurements, as related to whole blood HbF, in cancer patients

An attempt was made to refine the measurement of plasma fetal hemoglobin an d to expand its application as a marker in cancer. Accurate measurement could be achieved by, carefully, avoiding hemolysis du ring the collection of the blood samples. Concentration as low as 60 nanogr ams per milliliter of HbF were measured, in the plasma, by the method of Gr aded Hemagglutination Inhibition (GHI). Plasma HbF has been proven to be a conspicuouss marker in most kinds of cancer, checked here, including hemato logical malignancies and germ cell tumors, as elevated concentrations of pl asma HbF were found in patients with normal whole blood HbF as well as in t hose of elevated whole blood HbF. High precentages (70-100%) of elevated wh ole blood HbF were detected in the following diseases: Multiple myeloma (77 %, n=22), Chronic lymphoid leukemia (87%, n=8), Hairy cell leukemia (100, n =7), and Lung cancer (71%, n=7).