title: Detection of the alpha-thalassemia-2 (3.7 kb) deletion in DNA extracted from 20-year-old blood smears.
abstract: Using a polymerase chain reaction procedure we have identified the 3.7 kb alpha-thalassemia-2 deletion in the DNA that was isolated from slides of blood smears stained with Wright's stain some 20 years ago. Details about the procedure are presented. The success of this approach depends entirely on the amount of DNA that could be isolated; thick smears always gave good data provided they were not covered with immersion oil. The success rate in this study was 45%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, Fayetteville State University, NC 28301, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Okeagu
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Smetanina
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Huisman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013997:Time Factors; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004247:DNA