The hemoglobin electrophoresis test is used to identify the different types and quantities of hemoglobin present in the blood.
The results of the test can be used to screen for many life-threatening diseases including anemia, sickle-cell anemiaA severe, chronic and incurable anemic condition that results from abnormal hemoglobin distorting the red blood cells.
Patients suffer from joint pain, thrombosis, lethargy weakness and fever as well as chronic anemia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. and thalassemiaA gentically transmitted hemolytic anemia caused by deficient hemoglobic synthesis that primarily affects people of Mediterranean origin.
Of the two forms, thalassemia major is evident in infancy and is characterized by anemia, fever and failure to thrive. Confirmation involved microscopic examination of the red blood cells.
Red blood cells are destroyed leaving large amounts of iron to be deposited in the skin. Iron is also deposited in the heart, liver and pancreas which may become fibrotic. Frequent blood transfusions are necessary to maintain the bloods ability to transport oxygen. There is currently no cure.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions.. Over four hundred types of hemoglobin have been identified, but only about five are regularly analyzed.
A sample of blood is drawn from your vein. This sample is then placed into a machine, which passes an electric current through the blood. The different types of hemoglobinA complex protein-iron compound which forms part of the red blood cells. Hemoglobin carry oxygen to the cells and return carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Concentration of hemoglobin is different for men and women, with levels of 14 - 18 g/dl and 12 - 16 g/dl respectively. It has a structure which consists of 2 chains one with 141 amino acids and the other with 146. Any alteration in the the chains of just one amino acid alters the hemoglobin properties and is associated with sickle cell anemia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., which each posses a different electrical charge, are then separated as they move through the electrical field at different rates. This makes it possible for the operator to analyze the amount of each type of hemoglobin present in your blood.
Your doctor may specifically request hemoglobin electrophoresis testing if it is thought that you may be a carrier for some forms of inherited anemias. But the test is now widely available and with increasing capability it is now becoming part of the standard panel of prenatal tests performed during the first office visit.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
There are few, if any, risks associated with this test.
The test is performed early in pregnancy, usually during the first prenatal office visit.
Although there are many types of hemoglobin, most doctors screen for about five types of hemoglobin routinely. Of these only hemoglobin A (Hb A) and hemoglobin A2 (Hb A2) are present in significant quantities in normal adults. The other types of hemoglobin are Hb F, Hb S and Hb C.
The following table displays the normal values of each type of hemoglobin found in the adult bloodstream:
Babies are born with high levels of Hb F (about 50% to 80%), but this drops rapidly to 8% by six months and to adult levels soon after.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
If the laboratory detects variations in the quantity and type of hemoglobinA complex protein-iron compound which forms part of the red blood cells. Hemoglobin carry oxygen to the cells and return carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Concentration of hemoglobin is different for men and women, with levels of 14 - 18 g/dl and 12 - 16 g/dl respectively. It has a structure which consists of 2 chains one with 141 amino acids and the other with 146. Any alteration in the the chains of just one amino acid alters the hemoglobin properties and is associated with sickle cell anemia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. in the blood, it may indicate the presence of a disease, or that the sample has come from a carrier of the disease. A mild form of thalassemiaA gentically transmitted hemolytic anemia caused by deficient hemoglobic synthesis that primarily affects people of Mediterranean origin.
Of the two forms, thalassemia major is evident in infancy and is characterized by anemia, fever and failure to thrive. Confirmation involved microscopic examination of the red blood cells.
Red blood cells are destroyed leaving large amounts of iron to be deposited in the skin. Iron is also deposited in the heart, liver and pancreas which may become fibrotic. Frequent blood transfusions are necessary to maintain the bloods ability to transport oxygen. There is currently no cure.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions. has been associated with slight increases in Hb A2 and Hb F. A more severe form of thalassemia may be indicated by low levels of Hb A and high levels of Hb F. Sickle cell trait, present in the carrier of sickle-cell anemiaA severe, chronic and incurable anemic condition that results from abnormal hemoglobin distorting the red blood cells.
Patients suffer from joint pain, thrombosis, lethargy weakness and fever as well as chronic anemia.
Visit our comprehensive glossary for more pregnancy terms and definitions., can be detected if the results show a moderate level of Hb S. High levels of Hb S indicate the presence of the disease.
Other problems that can be identified are hemoglobin C trait or disease, which cause anemia and an enlarged spleen. Hemoglobin S-C disease results in a mild or moderate form of sickle cell anemia. A rare condition called hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin can be identified through high levels of Hb F.
If the tests show that you are a carrier of a hereditary disease, your partner will be tested. Your doctor will also suggest that you seek genetic counseling.
No results found. Click here for amazon.com
