Test Code HBEV Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
Specimen and Container/Tube
Specimen Type: Whole Blood
Preferred Specimen: EDTA Lavender Top
Other Acceptable specimens: Not Applicable
Volume
Preferred Volume: 4.0 mL
Minimum Volume: 0.2 mL
Specimen Stability
Storage Temperature |
Stability |
Room temperature |
3 days |
Refrigerated |
7 days |
Frozen |
Not applicable |
Collection Instructions
Collect specimen per standard laboratory collection procedures immediately before scheduled dose.
Specimen Handling and Transport Instructions
UCMC Onsite Instructions:
Collect specimen per standard collection procedure immediately before scheduled dose and send to laboratory immediately.
UCMC Offsite and UC MedLab Outreach Instructions:
- Samples must be sent room temperature at 15-25oC if transporting samples within 2 hours.
- Refrigerate for longer transport time.
Rejection Criteria
- Common specimen rejected situations include: incorrect specimen type, insufficient volume, missing or incomplete specimen identifiers, incorrect specimen transport, or specimens outside stability limits.
- Specimens that are clotted.
Reference Values
Test |
Age |
Sex |
Reference Range |
Hemoglobin A |
0 – 1 month |
All |
4.0 – 50.0% |
1 – 2 months |
All |
11.5 – 74.5% |
|
2 – 3 months |
All |
36.5 – 89.5% |
|
3 – 4 months |
All |
61.5 – 94.6% |
|
4 – 6 months |
All |
76.5 – 99.5% |
|
6 – 12 months |
All |
86.5 – 99.5% |
|
> 12 months |
All |
94.5 – 98.0% |
|
Hemoglobin A2 |
0 – 1 month |
All |
<1.2% |
1 - 12 months |
All |
0.5 – 3.5% |
|
> 12 months |
All |
2.0 – 3.5% |
|
Hemoglobin A2 Prime |
All |
All |
Not applicable |
Hemoglobin F |
0 – 1 month |
All |
50.0 – 95.0 |
1 – 2 months |
All |
25.0 – 85.0 |
|
2 – 3 months |
All |
10.0 – 60.0 |
|
3 – 4 months |
All |
<5.0 or > 35.0 |
|
4 – 6 months |
All |
<20.0% |
|
6 – 12 months |
All |
<10.0% |
|
> 12 months |
All |
<2.0% |
|
Hemoglobin S |
All |
All |
0.0 |
Hemoglobin C |
All |
All |
0.0 |
Hemoglobin Other |
All |
All |
0.0 |
Critical Values
Not applicable
Turnaround Time
Turnaround times are relative to the time the specimen is received in the test laboratory.
STAT Turnaround Time: Not available as STAT test
Routine Turnaround Time: 48 hours
Testing Schedule: Monday – Friday (7am – 3pm), Saturday & Sunday (7am – 9am)
Clinical Indications
Screening and quantitation of hemoglobins A, A2, F and hemoglobin variants by HPLC.
Test Components
Hemoglobin A
Hemoglobin A2
Hemoglobin A2 Prime
Hemoglobin F
Hemoglobin C
Hemoglobin S
Pathologist's interpretation
Methodology
High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
CPT Codes
83020, 83021
LOINC Codes
TBD
Synonyms/Keyword Search
Hemoglobin evaluation, hemoglobin screening
Additional Information
For confirmation and specific identification of uncommon hemoglobin variants (non-S/non-C), an additional specimen must be submitted to Laboratory Referral Services for sendout to reference laboratory.
Last Review Date
5/30/25