BACKGROUND: Neonatal screening programs for sickle cell disease are common in North America and in some European countries. Isoelectric Focusing or High Performance Liquid Chromatography is the main technique used for hemoglobin variant detection. METHODS: Since tandem mass spectrometry is being used for screening of inherited metabolic disorders and allows protein identification, we had developed an application to identify the most relevant hemoglobin mutations with this technology. RESULTS: This approach had been previously validated and has been routinely applied in our laboratory for the last three years. We report here our experience with this new method in the field, applied to our East-Belgian population. CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, mass spectrometry provides an efficient alternative approach for laboratories performing neonatal screening of hemoglobin disorders.
BACKGROUND: Neonatal screening programs for sickle cell disease are common in North America and in some European countries. Isoelectric Focusing or High Performance Liquid Chromatography is the main technique used for hemoglobin variant detection. METHODS: Since tandem mass spectrometry is being used for screening of inherited metabolic disorders and allows protein identification, we had developed an application to identify the most relevant hemoglobin mutations with this technology. RESULTS: This approach had been previously validated and has been routinely applied in our laboratory for the last three years. We report here our experience with this new method in the field, applied to our East-Belgian population. CONCLUSIONS: To conclude, mass spectrometry provides an efficient alternative approach for laboratories performing neonatal screening of hemoglobin disorders.