title: Stabilities of hemoglobins A and S in dried blood spots stored under controlled conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to measure separately the contributions of heat and humidity to changes in levels of hemoglobins A and S in dried-blood-spot (DBS) samples.
  
  
  METHODS
  We stored paired sets of DBSs at 37°C for predetermined intervals in low-humidity and high-humidity environments. Hemoglobin A and S levels of all samples in each complete set were measured in a single high performance liquid chromatography run.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the one-month storage intervals, both hemoglobin species lost about 35% of initial levels in low-humidity storage and almost all of initial levels in high-humidity storage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Minimizing both humidity and temperature in the transportation and storage environments of DBS samples is essential to maintaining the integrity of the hemoglobin tetramer molecules.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. Electronic address: BAdam@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Barbara W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Chafin
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
authors.forename: Victor R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: De Jesús
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D059788:Dried Blood Spot Testing / Q000379:methods*; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006441:Hemoglobin A / Q000032:analysis*; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D055550:Protein Stability; D059748:Proteolysis
chemical_list: D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006441:Hemoglobin A
keywords: Dried blood spots; Hemoglobin A; Hemoglobin S; Hemoglobin stability; Newborn screening; Sickle cell disease; Storage humidity; Storage temperature