COMPARISON OF CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS AND CELLULOSE ACETATE ELECTROPHORESIS IN DIAGNOSIS OF ΒETA-THALASSEMIA TRAIT

Abstract

Objective: To determine correlation between mean HbA2 value for screening of β thalassemia trait by capillary electrophoresis and cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi's Department of Hematology from September 2017 to February 2018. Consent was taken from all patients or their immediate family members. All confirmed anemic patients with hemoglobin level below the normal limits for age and gender, MCV<75 fL and MCH <25 pg, belongs to either gender, aged 2 to 35 years, presented during the study duration were included. A written questionnaire was utilized to collect the patient information. Results: Total 60 participants fulfilled the selection criteria according to G-Power analysis and included in the study. The mean age of (with age range 2-35 years) participants was 17.7±7.39 years. Majority of 33 (55.0%) participants were male. The mean hemoglobin of all patients was 11.06+_0.71fL and mean corpuscular volume was 67.84±5.87 fL, while mean corpuscular hemoglobin was 20.82±2.16 pg. Among all, 9 (15.0%) patients were diagnosed as β-thalassemia trait. The mean reticulocyte count was significantly higher in patients with β-thalassemia trait (2.5±0.85 vs. 1.99±0.68%). It was significantly higher in individuals with β-thalassemia trait on capillary (5.31±0.74 vs. 2.36±0.60%) and cellulose acetate (5.11±0.49 vs. 2.58±0.28%) electrophoresis. Conclusion: Strong difference between hemoglobin A2 for screening of β thalassemia trait on capillary electrophoresis and cellulose acetate electrophoresis respective to patient’s age and gender. Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) is similar to Cellulose Acetate (CA) for consistent extent of Hemoglobin (Hb) elements. Many clinical laboratories can use it to screen for hemoglobinopathies. Key Words: Beta thalassemia, Hemoglobin A2, Capillary electrophoresis, Cellulose acetate electrophoresis.