A simple test for detection of sickle hemoglobin in the neonatal period.

The ease of denaturation by shaking of a solution of oxyhemoglobin S (oxy-Hb S) forms the basis for a simple and reliable test for confirmation or rapid detection of Hb S in children and adults. Comparison of results of this test with those from agar gel electrophoresis in capillary blood samples from 187 black neonates at 2 to 7 days of life showed no overlap of the amounts of hemoglobin precipitated between the group of neonates with Hb S (5.7--12.0%) and that without Hb S (0--4.7%). These results indicate that the shaking test, by virtue of being simple, reliable and inexpensive, may be used to detect and confirm Hb S in large numbers of neonates before their discharge from the nursery.