Hemoglobinopathy Fractionation Profile

Additional Information:

UFHPL Epic order code: LAB288

Submit a separate lavender-top tube for each test requiring a lavender-top tube, to avoid delays in turnaround time.

CPT Code(s):

83021, 85660

Specimen Requirements:

Important: Indicate the patient's age, ethnic background, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), transfusion history and any other known hematological information when ordering this test.

Type: Whole blood

Container/Tube: Lavender-top tube (EDTA)

Sample Volume: 1 mL

Minimum Volume: 0.5 mL (Repeat testing is not possible with this specimen volume.)

Storage: Refrigerate specimens at 2° to 8°C after collection.

Stability (collection to time of analysis/testing):

  • Ambient: 14 days
  • Refrigerated: 14 days
  • Frozen: 14 days
  • Freeze/Thaw cycles: Stable (x3)
Rejection Criteria:

  • Gross lipemia
  • Recently administered isotopes
  • Plasma specimen

Use:

This test is used to diagnose thalassemias and hemoglobin variants. It includes:

  • Identification and relative percentages of hemoglobins (A, A2, F, S, C), with variants, if present
  • Hemoglobin solubility
  • Interpretation

Methodology:

Hemoglobin fractionation: high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC); hemoglobin solubility: sodium hydrosulfite reduction

Reference Values:

Reference Intervals

  • Hb A: 94 - 98% (adults)
  • Hb F:
    • 1 day: 69.7 - 84.3%
    • 5 days: 71.0 - 82.6%
    • 3 weeks: 62.7 - 77.3%
    • 6 - 9 weeks: 41.9 - 63.9%
    • 3 - 4 months: 7.2 - 39.2%
    • 6 months: 2.5 - 6.9%
    • 8 - 12 months: 0.6 - 2.6%
    • > 1 year: 0 - 2%
  • Hb S, D, G: 0 - 0%
  • Hb C, E, O: 0 - 0%
  • Hb A2: 0.7 - 3.1%
  • Hemoglobin solubility: Negative