Optimizing Falling Drop Hemoglobin Method by Comparing Capillary Versus Venous Blood and Determining the Stability of the Copper Sulfate Solution.

Background: Anemia is a global health issue that affects over 1 billion people and contributes to maternal mortality and birth defects. Low-resource, tropical areas face a dual challenge: high prevalence of anemia and inability to access affordable testing methods. The falling drop hemoglobin method has been developed by our lab to quantify hemoglobin concentration and assess anemia by timing the descent of venous blood in a column of copper sulfate solution, without using electricity or batteries.

A method of HbF determination for potential use in underdeveloped countries.

The objective of this study was to develop a simple, cost-effective method of HbF determination potentially useable in underdeveloped countries to determine sickle cell patient response to hydroxyurea treatment. Normal adult blood (HbA), cord blood (HbF), and a 50:50 mixture (HbA+F) were the three sample types used in procedure development. Normal blood samples were collected from the research team, and de-identified cord blood samples were provided by Cardinal Glennon Pediatric Research Institute, St.

Novel test method (sickle confirm) to differentiate sickle cell anemia from sickle cell trait for potential use in developing countries.

The objective of this study was to develop a diagnostic testing method to detect HbS, distinguish sickle cell homozygotes from heterozygotes, and overcome testing barriers encountered in laboratories in underdeveloped countries. Blood samples positive and negative for sickle cell were subjected to the standard hemoglobin solubility test followed by a variety of centrifugation and filtration procedures. Each procedure was evaluated for the ability to remove insoluble HbS from the sample.

Estimated prevalence of sickle cell in northern Haiti.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of sickle hemoglobin in northern Haiti.

Design: Sickle cell testing occurred from 2002-2009. Blood samples from 1035 subjects were collected for diagnostic purposes, de-identified, and made available for the study.

Development of a micro-ESR system with potential for in-home use.

Objective: To develop a micro-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) system with potential to be self-administered by patients at home using capillary blood.

Design: For each subject, three tubes of blood were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), centrifuged, and the cells separated from the plasma. Plasma was pooled and divided into three aliquots, two of which were spiked with defined amounts of fibrinogen creating a normal ESR and two distinct degrees of ESR acceleration.

Chronic myelocytic leukemia--Part II: Approaches to and molecular monitoring of therapy.

Data Synthesis: Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) was initially described in 1845 and is considered one of the first leukemias discovered. Effective approaches to therapy were not instituted until arsenic was first administered in 1865. Since then, four major therapeutic milestones have been achieved; the development of alkylating agents like busulphan and 6-thioguanine in 1953, alpha interferon in 1983, bone marrow transplantation in 1986, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors in 1998.

Chronic myelocytic leukemia--Part I: History, clinical presentation, and molecular biology.

Data Synthesis: Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) was initially described in 1845 and is considered one of the first leukemias to be discovered. Diagnosis of CML was dramatically improved with the discovery of the Philadelphia chromosome by Nowell and Hungerford in 1960. However, the rudiments of our understanding of the molecular cause of CML began in 1973 when Janet Rowley discovered that the Philadelphia chromosome is a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 9 and 22.

Advances in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Data Sources: Current literature.

Data Synthesis: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a stem cell disorder characterized by an overproduction of lymphoblasts in the bone marrow that eventually spill into circulation, producing lymphocytosis. As with the other acute leukemias, the most common symptoms experienced by patients include fatigue, bleeding, and recurrent infections resulting from the suppression of normal hematopoiesis in the bone marrow by the accumulating blasts.

The minimum concentration of fibrinogen needed for platelet aggregation using ADP.

Objective: Determine the minimum concentration of plasma fibrinogen needed to stimulate the aggregation of platelets, collected from normal subjects, using ADP.

Design: Platelet rich plasmas (300 x 10(9) platelets/L) were made and adjusted to final fibrinogen concentrations of 75, 19, 5, and 0 mg/dL using fibrinogen free serum. Each fibrinogen concentration in all twelve subjects was aggregated with ADP SETTING: Research laboratory in the Department of Clinical Laboratory Science at Saint Louis University.