Publication Cover
Hemoglobin
international journal for hemoglobin research
Volume 44, 2020 - Issue 2
85
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Proficiency Testing Program for Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A) Screening in Thailand Using Lyophilized Hb E Control Materials

, , , , &
Pages 82-85 | Received 23 Dec 2019, Accepted 17 Feb 2020, Published online: 24 May 2020
 

Abstract

The dichlorophenol-indophenol (DCIP) test and microcolumn chromatography are simple methods commonly used for screening of Hb E (HBB: c.79G>A) in Thailand. However, there is no proficiency testing (PT) program for these screening tests. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate an efficiency of lyophilized hemoglobin (Hb) control materials used in the established PT program for Hb E screening at the Associated Medical Sciences-Clinical Service Center (AMS-CSC), Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Three cycles of PT were performed from June 2018 to July 2019. In each cycle, five different types of control materials were provided to the participants. Each participant analyzed the control materials in the same manner as in their routine practices for Hb E screening. The results showed that the number of participants increased from 95 in the first cycle to 126 and 134 in the second and third cycles, respectively. The numbers of participants who used the DCIP screening test and reported the result correctly increased from 79 (85.87%) to 106 (89.08%) and 112 (89.60%), respectively. Whereas those who used the microcolumn chromatography method and reported correct results were decreased from 100.0 to 85.71 and 66.67%, respectively. Thus, lyophilized Hb, control materials can be used effectively for the PT program of Hb E screening test. However, the further improvement, especially in skills of Hb E analysis by microcolumn chromatography, is required for some participating laboratories.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the technicians at the AMS-CSC, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand for their assistance in this study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported in part by grants from the Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant (TA/RA) scholarships, Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.