A test tube method for quantitation of hemoglobin A2 using DE 52 cellulose.

A test tube method for quantitation of Hb A2 which is an adaption of the microcolumn chromatographic method is described. The method uses microangular DEAE cellulose (DE 52, microgranular and preswollen, Whatman Inc.) equilibrated with a 0.2 M glycine-0.1% KCN solution, pH 7.25. Hemoglobin A and F become bound to the resin while Hb A2 is in supernatant fraction allowing its quantitation. The method is simple, rapid, inexpensive and accurate, and allows one technician to determine the level of Hb A2 in at least 50 samples a day. The method can be used with whole blood, hemolysates and blood collected on filter paper.