The measurement of hemoglobin A2 and F in stored whole blood samples.
BACKGROUND
Little information is available on the influence of the storage conditions on the results of hemoglobin A2 (HbA2) and F (HbF) testing.


METHODS
The stability of HbA2 and HbF was assessed on stored whole blood samples tested immediately after collection and after one week of storage at either + 4 degrees C or - 80 degrees C.


RESULTS
An excellent correlation was observed between fresh specimens and those stored at either + 4 degrees C (HbA2: r = 0.994; p < 0.001 and HbF: r = 0.999; p < 0.001) or - 80 degrees C (HbA2: r = 0.995; p < 0.001 and HbF: r = 0.999; p < 0.001). The mean biases from the reference fresh specimens were very modest for samples stored at + 4 degrees C (HbA2: -0.06%; HbF: 0.02%;) and - 80 degrees C (HbA2: - 0.06%; HbF: 0.05%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of our investigation demonstrate that whole blood specimens for HbA2 and HbF testing can be stored at + 4 degrees C or - 80 degrees C for up to one week.
U.O. di Diagnostica Ematochimica, Dipartimento di Patologia e Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, Italy.
Mariella
M
Mercadanti
Araelsis
A
Romero
Giuseppe
G
Lippi
D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis*; D006443:Hemoglobin A2 / Q000032:analysis*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D006443:Hemoglobin A2; D005319:Fetal Hemoglobin