title: Capillary zone electrophoresis for haemoglobinopathy diagnosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Capillary zone electrophoresis (CE) at alkaline pH is increasingly used in haemoglobinopathy diagnosis. We report our evaluation of automated CE, using the Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing instrument, as a routine diagnostic method for the detection of variant haemoglobins and the diagnosis of β thalassaemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing instrument with Phoresis software was evaluated in our laboratory over a 6-week period, comparisons being made with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and, for haemoglobin A(2) quantification, with microcolumn chromatography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The instrument was easy to use and was suitable for the quantification of haemoglobin A(2). Quantification of A(2) was precise and the percentage was stable with ageing of the blood specimen. Results differ among HPLC, CE and microcolumn chromatography and use of an instrument-specific, method-specific reference range is therefore recommended until such time as there is standardisation between methods and manufacturers. Common variant haemoglobins were provisionally identified without difficulty. There are some uncommon variant haemoglobins that are detected by HPLC but not by capillary electrophoresis, but the reverse also occurs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Capillary electrophoresis using a Capillarys 2 Flex Piercing instrument is suitable for haemoglobinopathy diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borbely
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phelan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szydlo
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bain
mesh_terms: D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D019075:Electrophoresis, Capillary; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013997:Time Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal