Common abnormal hemoglobins found in Thailand and laboratory diagnostics

Abstract

Since the introduction of the national prevention and control program of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies throughout Thailand, number of request for hemoglobin analysis have been dramatically increased. Numbers of dedicated hemoglobin analyzers including low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) have been used by many diagnostic laboratories. This has led to the observations of many abnormal hemoglobins in Thailand, most of them could not be accurately diagnosed at routine setting. Further study at the molecular level has provided useful information related to the molecular basis and the development of molecular diagnostics for many of these hemoglobin variants. In this article, common hemoglobin variants encountered at the Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Khon Kaen University, one of the referral centers for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies, were summarized. They were grouped according to the frequencies observed, types of globin gene defects and analytical characteristics observed at routine which are useful for the initial prediction of abnormal hemoglobins and selection of appropriate molecular diagnostics for final diagnosis.