Comparison Between Capillary Electrophoresis and High Performance Liquid Chromatography for Detection and Quantification of Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS; α142, Term→Gln (TAA>CAA IN α2)]

Abstract

Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS; α142, Term→Gln (TAA>CAA in α2)] is often missed by routine laboratory testing since its mRNA as well as gene product are unstable and presented at a low level in peripheral blood. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of capillary electrophoresis (CE) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for detecting and quantifying Hb CS in 19 heterozygotes and 14 homozygotes with Hb CS as well as 10 Hb H-CS disease subjects who were detected by molecular analysis. In the CE electrophoregram, Hb CS was seen at zone 2 and was observed in all samples, while the chromatogram of Hb CS peaks was found in 26.32% heterozygotes, 42.86% homozygotes and 90% Hb H-CS disease subjects, respectively. In addition, the Hb CS levels in each group of subjects quantified by CE were significantly higher than those quantified by HPLC. Based on the CE method, the lowest Hb CS level was found in the heterozygotes, whereas the highest level was found in the Hb H-CS disease patients. Therefore, the CE method was superior to the HPLC method for detecting Hb CS. Furthermore, the level of Hb CS quantified by CE proved useful in screening heterozygotes and homozygotes with Hb CS as well as Hb H-CS disease.

• Capillary electrophoresis (CE)
• Hb Constant Spring (Hb CS)
• High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)
• Hb H-CS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank the technicians at the Associated Medical Sciences Clinical Service Center, Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang-Mai University, Chiang-Mai, Thailand, for their help and assistance. This study was supported by grants from the National Research Council of Thailand.

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