The table below summarises normal and common haemoglobin variants, as well as their typical mobilities on alkaline and acid electrophoresis and HPLC. The two main haemoglobins with a positive sickle solubility test are haemoglobin S and C-Harlem. The sickle solubility test can hence be used as an adjunct when variants with the mobility / retention time of haemoglobin S is detected.

HaemoglobinGlobin ChainUsual %AlkalineAcidHPLCSickle Test
Aα2ß296 – 98AAANegative
A2α2δ22 – 3.5CAA2Negative
Bart’sα-/-α-/-N/AFastFP1Negative
CßC40 – 45CCCNegative
C-HarlemßC-Harlem40 – 45CSCPositive
Constant SpringαCS2 – 3SlowACNegative
DßD40 – 45SADNegative
EßE30 – 35CAA2Negative
Fα2Γ2< 1FFFNegative
GαG-Phil35 – 45SADNegative
Hα+/-α-/-N/AFastAP1Negative
Leporeδß fusion7 – 15SAA2Negative
O-ArabßO-Arab40 – 45CSCNegative
Q-ThailandαQ-Thailand25 – 35SA-SSNegative
SßS40 – 45SSSPositive
Normal and variant haemoglobins and their characteristics on HPLC and gel electrophoresis. Usual percentages are reflected for patient’s with one variant haemoglobin and one normal haemoglobin. For the ß globin variants, usual percentages are approximately 5% lower for each co-inherited α thalassaemia gene.
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