A Test Tube Method for Quantitation of Hemoglobin A2Using DE 52 Cellulose

Abstract

A test tube method for quantitation of Hb A₂ which is an adaption of the microcolumn chromatographic method is described. The method uses microgranular DEAE cellulose (DE 52, microgranular and preswollen, Whatman Inc.) equilibrated with a 0.2 M glycine-0.1 KCN solution, pH 7.25. Hemoglobin A and F become bound to the resin while Htr A₂ is in the supernatant fraction allowing its quantitation. The method is simple, rapid, inexpensive and accurate, and allows one technician to determine the level of Hb A₂ in at least 50 samples a day. The method can be used with whole blood, hemolysates and blood collected on filter paper.