Hemoglobin A1 quantity in individual red cells of normal adults.

HbA1 weight in individual red cells, amounting to 13,746, was quantitatively determined in 72 male and 17 female healthy adults. The red cells were besmeared on the anti-HbA1 serum agarose plate and the precipitation rings formed were measured from the size printed on sheets of printing paper. HbA1 weight in individual cells was calculated from the calibration curve prepared specially for HbA1, weight in a red cell and the volume of a precipitation ring. HbA1 weight in individual cells ranged from 4.7 to 62.6 pg and averaged 23.7 pg. The mean HbA1 weight in individual cells per head ranged from 18.1 to 34.0 pg and averaged 26.4+/-4.3 pg. No difference in the mean HbA1 weight was found between male and female adults, and among the age groups of them. Average ratio of the mean HbA1 weight in individual cells to the total hemoglobin in the average red cell was 87.4%. The HbA1 weight in the average red cell was determined from HbA1 concentration and red cell counts of the whole blood. The correlation coefficient between the mean HbA1 weight in individual cells and the HbA1 weight in the average red cell was 0.546 (p less than 0.001).