Hemoglobiinianalyyseihin

Hemoglobiinianalyyseihin refers to the set of laboratory procedures used to quantify and characterize hemoglobin in blood. The core goal is to assess hemoglobin status for diagnosis, monitoring, and screening of hematologic and metabolic conditions. Routine quantitative testing commonly uses colorimetric methods such as the cyanmethemoglobin method (Drabkin's method), where hemoglobin is converted to a stable cyanmethemoglobin that is measured spectrophotometrically. Alternative automated methods employ lysed-cell analyzers and multi-wavelength spectrophotometry for direct hemoglobin concentration without manual reagents. In addition to total Hb, analyses may include the measurement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to monitor long-term glycemic control in diabetes.

For qualitative analysis, laboratories separate and identify hemoglobin variants using electrophoresis (cellulose acetate or agarose at alkaline pH), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), capillary electrophoresis, or isoelectric focusing. These techniques detect abnormal Hb types such as HbS, HbC, HbD, and prototype variants, and can quantify percentages of HbA, HbA2, HbF, and abnormal forms. Molecular methods (DNA sequencing or targeted genotyping) are used when precise mutation characterization is required.

Interpretation depends on clinical context, with uses including anemia evaluation, screening for hemoglobinopathies, and diabetes management. Limitations include preanalytic factors, interference by lipids or bilirubin, presence of rare variants affecting assay accuracy, and variability among platforms. Quality control and standardization are essential for reliable results.