03/06/2014
Hemoglobin Electrophoresis What It Is? A hemoglobin electrophoresis test measures the different types of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells, comes in many molecular forms, some normal and some abnormal. Normal hemoglobin carries and releases oxygen efficiently, while abnormal hemoglobin doesn't. The most common types of normal hemoglobin are: Hemoglobin F, the normal type found in fetuses and newborns. It's replaced by hemoglobin A soon after birth. Hemoglobin A, the normal type most commonly found in healthy kids and adults. Hemoglobin S, C, D, E, M, and hundreds of rarer kinds, the abnormal hemoglobin types. If a person inherits the genes that cause production of too much of an abnormal type of hemoglobin, or not enough normal hemoglobin, it can lead to blood disorders, including: Sickle cell disease. Hemoglobin S is responsible for most types of sickle cell disease, a condition in which the red blood cells have a crescent or sickle shape that causes them to break down too quickly and clog small blood vessels. Thalassemias. This group of genetic blood diseases affects the amount and type of hemoglobin made (for example, too much hemoglobin F and not enough hemoglobin A in a child). The electrophoresis process takes advantage of the fact that hemoglobin types have different electrical charges. During electrophoresis, an electrical current is passed through the hemoglobin in someone's blood sample, which causes the hemoglobin types to separate at different rates and form bands. By comparing the pattern formed with that of a normal blood sample, doctors can see the types and quantities of hemoglobin present in the blood sample. Why It's Done A doctor may order hemoglobin electrophoresis to help diagnose diseases (called hemoglobinopathies) involving abnormal hemoglobin production, such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. Doctors also may order the test when a child has family history of a hemoglobinopathy or is found to have anemia that isn't due to a more common cause, such as iron deficiency. In many states, a hemoglobin electrophoresis is performed as part of a
series of newborn screening blood tests, primarily so that kids with sickle cell anemia can be diagnosed, monitored, and treated early to prevent potentially life-threatening complications
