Detection of Hb Constant Spring by a capillary electrophoresis method.

Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS; alpha142, Term-->Gln (TAA>CAA in alpha2)] is the most prevalent nondeletional alpha-thalassemia (alpha-thal) anomaly in southern China. In conjunction with alpha(0)-thal, it can cause severe Hb H (beta(4)) disease. The present study was done to evaluate the efficiency of two diagnostic methods in detecting Hb CS. Automated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Sebia Capillarys 2, a capillary electrophoresis method, were applied to blood samples from 21 individuals with Hb CS trait. Of the 21 cases, all (100%) were detected by capillary electrophoresis, whereas only 16 (76.2%) were detected by HPLC. We concluded that the Sebia Capillarys 2 is the preferred method for Hb CS screening.