Globin chain analysis by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography: recent developments.

Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography of globin chains is an important additional tool in the study of hemoglobin abnormalities. Using a technique modified from that of Leone et al.,[1] we report here the relative chromatographic behavior of about 200 different hemoglobin variants. This method provides an additional dimension in the presumptive characterization of hemoglobin variants. It was also found to be of special value for measuring the expression of neutral variants, such as thalassemic or unstable hemoglobins, and to identify neutral mutations associated with another variant, resulting in unusual hematological presentations.