HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES DETECTED BY CBC ANALYSIS AND HPLC HEMOGLOBIN-A(1C ANALYSIS

We report a series of 13 patients with unlysed red blood cells (''RBC clouds'') on white blood cell scattergrams produced by the Sysmex NE8000 and 29 patients with abnormal hemoglobin peaks on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Of the 13 patients noted to have RBC clouds, S were previously undiagnosed, 4 were diagnosed, 1 was suspected of having a hemoglobinopathy, and 3 bad liver disease with no hemoglobinopathy detected. Abnormal hemoglobin peaks were detected in 26 patients with previously undiagnosed abnormal hemoglobins by HPLC HbA1c analysis. Thus, careful analysis of commonly ordered screening and monitoring tests such as complete blood count and HbA1c measurements in diabetic patients can reveal other abnormalities, primarily the detection of hemoglobinopathies.