Newcastle Laboratories

Sickle Solubility Test

Clinical Background:

Haemoglobin S (HbS) or sickle cell haemoglobin, results from an autosomal recessive mutation to the beta globin gene. Red cells containing HbS have a reduced deformability, under conditions of Hypo...

Haemoglobin S (HbS) or sickle cell haemoglobin, results from an autosomal recessive mutation to the beta globin gene. Red cells containing HbS have a reduced deformability, under conditions of Hypoxia they form the so-called sickle shape and are easily destroyed resulting in occlusion of the microcurculation and a chronic haemolyitic anaemia. Heterozygotes have sickle cell trait, homozygotes have sickle cell disease. HbS may be found in conjunction with other Haemoglobin mutations and compound heterozygotes may display the features of homozygous disease or be asymptomatic depending on the combination. The screeing test will detect the presence of HbS in a sample, it will not distunguish between HbAS (heterozygote) and HbSS (homozgote), positive samples are sent for Haemoglobin Quantitation. The test is used as a quick pre-op screening test in patients with a family history of HbS or if the patient is from a region with a high prevelance of the mutation (Africa, Middle East, Mediterranean and India) as general anaesthesia presents a significant risk to paitents with this mutation

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Test Details

  • Discipline:

    Protein laboratory

    Protein laboratory

  • Specimen Container Adult:

    Purple EDTA 4ml14 days if stored between 2-8 degrees

    Purple EDTA 4ml14 days if stored between 2-8 degrees

  • Specimen Container Paediatric:

    Purple EDTA

    Purple EDTA

  • Minimum Volume Adult:

    2.0mL

    2.0mL

  • Minimum Volume Paediatric:

    1.0mL

    1.0mL

  • Special Requirement:

    Ensure adequate mixing.

    Ensure adequate mixing.

  • Sample Stability:

    14 days if stored between 2-8 degrees

    14 days if stored between 2-8 degrees

  • Transport Requirements:

    No Special transport requirements

    No Special transport requirements

  • Freq Analysis:

    Routine testing completed daily Monday to Friday, Urgent testing out of hours completed on request

    Routine testing completed daily Monday to Friday, Urgent testing out of hours completed on request

  • Add On Test:

    Phone EXT 24766 during routine house and EXT 25819 out of hours

    All urgent add ons via telephone must be confirmed via email to the appropriate email address

    tnu-tr.bloodsciencesadditions@nhs.net (...

    Phone EXT 24766 during routine house and EXT 25819 out of hours

    All urgent add ons via telephone must be confirmed via email to the appropriate email address

    tnu-tr.bloodsciencesadditions@nhs.net (internal)

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  • Quality Assurance:

    The lab participates in the UKNEQAS Abnormal Haemoglobins EQA scheme

    The lab participates in the UKNEQAS Abnormal Haemoglobins EQA scheme

  • Interpretation:

    Positive – Suggest Haemoglobin S present

    Negative – Suggest Haemoglobin S not present.

    All results require confirmation via High Performance Liquid Chromatography via a Haemoglobinopathy screen. Du...

    Positive – Suggest Haemoglobin S present

    Negative – Suggest Haemoglobin S not present.

    All results require confirmation via High Performance Liquid Chromatography via a Haemoglobinopathy screen. During routine hours, this will be completed by the Protein laboratory. If confirmation and haemoglobin S quantitation required urgently out of hours this must be discussed with the Biochemistry Biomedical Scientist on shift EXT 24305/24041. 

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  • Factors Affecting Result:

    Patient age – Testing not appropriate for patients under 6 month. Please refer to patient’s Newborn screening result if confirmation of sickle status required.

    Post transfusion – Testing not approp...

    Patient age – Testing not appropriate for patients under 6 month. Please refer to patient’s Newborn screening result if confirmation of sickle status required.

    Post transfusion – Testing not appropriate if patient is post transfusion. This may give a false negative result. Discuss with laboratory if clinical concern.

    Testing should not be completed on clotted sample or haemolysed sample. A repeat sample will be requested.

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  • Other Info:

    N/A

    N/A

  • Routine Contact Name:

    Proteins Lab

  • Routine Telephone:

    0191 282 4766

    0191 282 4766

  • Routine Email:

  • Specialist Test:

    Yes

    Yes

Availability:

Always available- Testing completed by RVI Protein laboratory between 08:30 and 17:00, Testing completed by RVI Haematology laboratory between 17:00-08:30

Turn Around:

Non-urgent - 4 days, Urgent 1 hour 

Send To:

Blood sciences RVI (Protein laboratory between 08:30 and 17:00 and RVI Haematology laboratory between 17:00-08:30)

Level 3
Leazes Wing
Royal Victoria Infirmary
Queen Victoria Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4LP

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