Abstract
α-Thalassaemia 1 genetic disorder occurs when there is a deletion of two linked α-globin genes. The interaction between these abnormal genes leads to the most severe type of thalassaemia disease, haemoglobin (Hb) Bart’s hydrops fetalis. The identification of α-thalassaemia 1 carriers and genetic counselling are essential for the prevention and control of severe thalassaemia diseases. In this study, we have developed a rapid screening method for identifying α-thalassaemia 1. A sandwich-type immunochromatographic (IC) strip test was developed, using the generated monoclonal anti-Hb Bart’s antibody, to trace the Hb Bart’s in haemolysates. When assayed by our IC strip test, all α-thalassaemia 1, HbH disease, HbH-Constant Spring (H-CS) disease, HbH-CS and heterozygous HbE (CSEA) Bart’s disease, and homozygous α-thalassaemia 2 showed positive results. No false negative results were observed in these blood samples. In α-thalassaemia 2 heterozygotes, 83% of them showed positive reactivity. Among HbE (both homozygotes and heterozygotes), β-thalassaemia (heterozygotes, homozygotes and β-thalassaemia/HbE) and normal subjects, the IC strip test revealed negative reactivity of 100, 85 and 97%, respectively. These results indicate that this novel immunodiagnostic kit, in combination with red blood cell indices, is suitable for screening and ruling out mass populations for the presence of α-thalassaemia 1.
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Acknowledgments
We are grateful to Dr. Weerawit Piyamongkol, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University for providing Hb Bart’s hydrops fetalis blood. We thank i+MED Laboratories, Thailand, for IC strip tests. We thank Brian Biegler for proofreading the manuscript. This study was supported by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Sciences and Technology Development Agency (Thailand) and the Thailand Research Fund. Surakit Kuntaruk obtained scholarship from Thailand Graduate Institute of Science and Technology (TGIST).
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Tayapiwatana, C., Kuntaruk, S., Tatu, T. et al. Simple method for screening of α-thalassaemia 1 carriers. Int J Hematol 89, 559–567 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-009-0331-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-009-0331-4