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Test Code HBEV Hemoglobin Electrophoresis

Specimen and Container/Tube

Specimen Type: Whole Blood

Preferred Specimen: EDTA Lavender Top

Other Acceptable specimens: Not Applicable

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

CPT Codes

83020, 83021

LOINC Codes

TBD

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.

 

Test Components

Hemoglobin A

Hemoglobin A2

Hemoglobin A2 Prime

Hemoglobin F

Hemoglobin C

Hemoglobin S

Pathologist's interpretation

Clinical Indications

Screening and quantitation of hemoglobins A, A2, F and hemoglobin variants by HPLC.

Methodology

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

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.

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)

Last Review Date

5/30/25

Synonyms/Keyword Search

Hemoglobin evaluation, hemoglobin screening