Detection of hemoglobin alterations in a sample population in northwest Mexico. Preliminary report.

Blood samples from 1,000 individuals seen at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in northwestern Mexico were assayed by multiple systems (acid, alkaline and neutral electrophoresis, heat, freeze and isopropanol stability and erythrocytic morphology under hypoxia) to detect hemoglobin (Hb) abnormalities. Two beta-thalassemia heterozygotes (0.2 per cent), five Hb S heterozygotes (0.5 per cent) and three probable new Hb variants (0.3 per cent) were identified. These preliminary results give a general idea of the gene frequencies in this population, but do not yet permit the evaluation of the relative advantage of multiple methodology for the detection of abnormal Hbs.