Normal Adult Hemoglobin (Hgb A)
Heme molecule composed of iron in the
ferrous state (Fe
++
)
Globin is the protein portion
95-98% of adult Hgb is Hgb A
Remaining amount is A
2 and A
3
3
Sickle Cell Hemoglobin (Hgb S)
The amino acid glutamicacid is replaced by
amino acid valine
Ability of RBCs oxygen carrying capability
is impaired
Two possible genotype
–AS (sickle cell trait)
–SS (sickle cell disease)
4
Peripheral Blood Picture
Varying number of sickledforms
Marked anisocytosis, poikilocytosis,
and polychromasia
Target cells, nucleated RBCs,
increased WBCs and platelets
Reticulocytecount is elevated:
(5-25%)
6
Sodium metabisulfite
Principle
–Cells containing HgbS will “sickle”
when placed under a condition of
reduced oxygen tension
Sodium
Metabisulfate
15 minutes
&
30 minutes
7
Dithionite tube test
Principle
–HgbS is insoluble in a phosphate buffer
»Results in turbidity
–HgbA is soluble
»Results in clear appearance
–Other abnormal hemoglobins
may result in turbidity
8
ESR Clinical Significance
•The ESR is a nonspecifictest that
suggests the possibility of an inflammatory
process or tissue damage in the body
•The ESR is not diagnostic but is useful in
following the course of some diseases like
rheumatic fever, arthritis, and Lupus
Principle
Based on principle of
sedimentation where solids settle
to the bottom of a liquid
A known quantity of
anticoagulatedblood is left
undisturbed, the RBCs separate
from the plasma and fall to the
bottom of the container
Procedure
Anticoagulated blood is placed in a calibrated
tube of standard dimensions
It is incubated in a vertical position and left
undisturbed for a designated period of time
(usually 1 hr)
Distance RBCs fall within the given time is
measured in millimeters and reported
mm/hr
Types of ESR Methods
Wintrobe–simplest and
mostcosteffective
Westergren–more sensitive
Automated methods
Factors affecting ESR
Plasma factors
Abnormal plasma proteins
may lead to rouleaux
formation
(falsely increases ESR)
The single most important
factor in determining
ESR rate
RBC Factors
Size
–Large erythrocytes settle faster than
smaller ones and will increase ESR
Shape
–spherocytes settle rapidly while sickle cells
settle very slowly
Number of RBCs
–In anemia there are less RBCs and more
plasma volume which increases ESR
Technical Factors
Tilting
Noise and vibration
Temperature
Test set up within 2hrs of blood collection
ESR tube
Well mixed sample
Air bubbles
Accurately timed