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