Haemoglobin F (HbF) - Kleihauer test
Last updated: Friday, 04, June, 2010
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| Item | Process |
|---|---|
| Specimen | 5 mL blood in EDTA tube. |
| Method | Blood film incubated at low pH, stained and examined. Cells containing HbF resist acid elution and take up the stain; cells containing adult Hb (HbA) appear as 'ghost' cells. |
| Reference Interval | Kleihauer test negative on normal adult blood. |
| Application | Detection and quantitation of transplacental haemorrhage. Studies in the thalassaemias. See also Haemoglobin F - alkali denaturation and Flow cytometry. |
| Interpretation | Volume of transplacental haemorrhage can be estimated from the ratio of fetal (acid resistant) to maternal (ghost) red cells. Distribution of Hb F in cells assists in determining type of thalassaemia. Consult pathologist. |
| Reference | Mollison P. Blood Transfusion in Clinical Medicine. 9th ed. Blackwell Scientific 1993. |