title: Hemoglobin Constant Spring exhibits prolonged ex vivo stability when assessed by HPLC.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  1) To investigate the presence of hemoglobin Constant Spring (HbCS) in a patientwith severe microcytic anemia who had previously been diagnosed with alpha thalassemia minor. 2) To assess the stability of HbCS post blood collection by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Hemoglobin fractionation was performed by HPLC immediately after specimen collection using the β-thalassemia Short Program on the BioRad Variant II. To assess HbCS stability, the patient's specimen was re-analyzed over a 17 day period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPLC analysis showed a low abundance peak with chromatographic properties consistent with HbCS. Presence of this hemoglobin variant was confirmed by electrophoresis and gene sequencing. HbCS remained detectable by HPLC for 17 days after specimen collection, with minimal degradation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that HbCS is stable many days after blood collection. Consequently, it is not necessary to analyze specimens immediately after collection when assessing the potential presence of this hemoglobin variant.
authors: DynaLIFE(Dx), Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: mathew.estey@dynalifedx.com.
authors: Mathew P
authors: MP
authors: Estey
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Belletrutti
authors: DynaLIFE(Dx), Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Canada.
authors: Karina
authors: K
authors: Rodriguez-Capote
authors: DynaLIFE(Dx), Canada.
authors: Trefor
authors: T
authors: Higgins
mesh_terms: D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000592:standards; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; C035541:Hemoglobin Constant Spring
keywords: Alpha thalassemia; Hemoglobin Constant Spring; Hemoglobin H disease; High performance liquid chromatography; Stability