Ladan Hosseini Gohari, Isa Noormohammadi, Ali Akbar Sharafi Tafresi Moghadam, Leila Mostaan, Aneti Drousiotou,
Volume 3, Issue 4 (1-2007)
Abstract
Background and Objectives
For a successful prevention program, globin chain synthesis, as a complementary test beside DNA analysis, is necessary. So, it is important that each laboratory establishes its own reference range for the classification of thalassemia syndromes by globin chain synthesis. Globin chain synthesis is a relatively complex test introduced in the study of thalassemia syndromes as a reference method. The technique is also useful for variant chain identification.This study aims to stablish the method of globin chain synthesis to determine a / b chain ratio in healthy individuals.
Materials and Methods
In this study globin chain analysis was performed on 30 healthy laboratory personnels with normal HbA2 and normal hematological indices. In this method a reticulocyte-rich sample is incubated with a mixture of amino acids, one of which (leucine) radioactively labelled. After washing the excess radioactivity and precipitating the globin, different chains are separated by cation exchange chromatography.
Results
The mean a / b ratio was 1.045 ± 0.12 (mean ± 1SD) in healthy subjects. Our findings were in agreement with those of the other investigators in the world.
Conclusions
In any screening program, diagnostic problems will arise that can not be solved without biosynthetic studies. The Clegg and Weatherall method has been proved to be very reliable and reproducible, but time-consuming (requiring four days). New methods like reverse phase HPLC are now available for chain separation. Therefore, according to the procedures each laboratory should determine its own reference range.
Key words : a globin, b globin, Hemoglobin, Normal range, Ion exchange chromatography
