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A new approach for the antenatal diagnosis of β‐thalassaemia: a double labelling immunofluorescence microscopy technique
Author(s) -
Thorpe Susan J.,
Huehns E. R.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1983.00001.x-i1
Subject(s) - immunofluorescence , fetus , labelling , fetal hemoglobin , thalassemia , antibody , globin , hemoglobinopathy , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immunology , medicine , hemoglobin , hemolytic anemia , pregnancy , biochemistry , genetics
S ummary . A new approach to the antenatal diagnosis of β‐thalassaemia major (homozygous β‐thalassaemia) has been developed. Using rhodamine‐labelled antibodies directed against γ‐globin, fetal erythrocytes can be identified in fetal blood samples contaminated with maternal cells, and using fluorescein‐labelled antibodies directed against β‐globin, the presence of β‐chains (and thus Hb‐A) may be determined in the same cells by double labelling immunofluorescence microscopy. The results obtained using this technique on blood samples from fetuses at risk for β‐thalassaemia major show that if fetal β‐chains are detected immunochemically the fetus is normal or heterozygous for β‐thalassaemia and over 85% of the fetuses unaffected by β‐thalassaemia major may be identified in this way. The technique is rapid, applicable to small numbers of fetal erythrocytes heavily contaminated with maternal cells and eliminates the necessity of determining chain synthesis ratios in those cases where β‐chains are detected immunochemically.