Open AccessSimplified flow cytometric method for fetal hemoglobin containing red blood cells
Author(s) -
Mundee Yuttana,
Bigelow Nancy C.,
Davis Bruce H.,
Porter John B.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
cytometry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1097-0320
pISSN - 0196-4763
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0320(20001215)42:6<389::aid-cyto1007>3.0.co;2-j
Subject(s) - fetal hemoglobin , flow cytometry , cytometry , hemoglobin , red blood cell , chromatography , fetus , andrology , microbiology and biotechnology , heparin , blood cell , cell , immunology , chemistry , medicine , biology , biochemistry , pregnancy , genetics
Assay of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and/or HbF containing red blood cells (F + cells) is essential for monitoring sickle cell and thalassemic patients, especially during treatment with HbF stimulators. Some previous flow cytometric methods contain several washing steps. This simplified method contains no washing step and takes less than an hour to perform. The %F + cells in five mixtures of fetal red blood cells with adult red blood cells were nonsignificantly different in the original and simplified procedure. The %F + cells of 12 patients compared in these two procedures were also not significantly different. The intra‐ and interassay %CVs do not exceed 3% and 7% respectively. EDTA, citrate, or heparin is suitable as anticoagulant and the samples can be stored at 4°C for up to 2 weeks. The %F + cells and %HbF [by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)] of 83 samples were highly significantly correlated regardless of diagnosis. In conclusion, this new simplified flow cytometric method for F + cells is simple, convenient, rapid, reproducible, and could be applied for monitoring sickle cell and thalassemic patients as an alternative to HPLC, where this is unavailable. It can also be applied as a fetal cell assay in fetomaternal hemorrhage. Cytometry (Comm. Clin. Cytometry) 42:389–393, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.