Laboratory parameters provided by Advia 2120 analyser identify structural haemoglobinopathy carriers and discriminate between Hb S trait and Hb C trait.

Background: Haemoglobinopathies have spread owing to human migration, and the number of people needing diagnosis and management of these conditions is increasing. Clinicians need to accurately identify carriers and provide adequate genetic counselling in order to prevent the occurrence of homozygous or compound heterozygous offspring.

Objectives: To identify red blood cell (RBC) laboratory parameters that discriminate between structural haemoglobinopathy carriers and healthy subjects, and to compare RBC laboratory indices between HbAS and HbAC individuals.

Reticulocyte parameters of delta beta thalassaemia trait, beta thalassaemia trait and iron deficiency anaemia.

Aims: To analyse the differences in reticulocyte indices between delta beta thalassaemia trait (δβ-TT), beta thalassaemia trait (β-TT) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), and to correlate those differences with the physiopathological features of these three types of microcytoses.

Methods: We performed a descriptive study of 428 samples (43 δβ-TT, 179 β-TT and 206 IDA) that were run on Advia 2120 analyser (Siemens). The following reticulocyte indices were assessed: absolute reticulocyte count (ARC), percentage of reticulocytes, mean corpuscular volume of reticulocytes (MCVr), haemoglobin content of reticulocytes (CHr), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration of reticulocytes, red blood cell distribution width of reticulocytes (RDWr), haemoglobin distribution width of reticulocytes (HDWr) and reticulocyte subpopulations based on their fluorescence according to mRNA (low (L-R), medium (M-R) and high (H-R)), MCV ratio and MCHC ratio.

Cytogenetics findings in a histiocytic sarcoma case.

Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a neoplasm derived from histiocytes. Its diagnosis was not clear until its immunohistochemistry profile was correctly established. Not much is known about its genetic properties.