Incidental findings of variant hemoglobin during hemoglobin A(1c) testing.

A variant hemoglobin fraction may be an incidental finding during HbA(1c) analysis using the G8 Tosoh HPLC analyzer, but it is unclear if the retention times and fraction patterns can reliably predict the findings of a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) β-thalassemia program (Bio Rad Variant II analyzer). We chose 100 samples sent for HbA(1c) determinations (G8 Tosoh) with an incidental finding of variant hemoglobin and did a reflex test using the Bio Rad Variant II analyzer (β-thalassemia program). Two observers attempted to predict the results with that analyzer from fraction patterns and retention times of the hemoglobin variants detected with the G8. They independently identified all hemoglobin variants (HbS, Hb Setif, HbC, and HbD) by their patterns and retention times. We conclude that HPLC confirmation of certain variant hemoglobin fractions found incidentally during HbA(1c) testing on the G8 Tosoh is not necessary.