Identification of specific hemoglobins within individual erythrocytes

The identification of specific antibodies for a variety of inherited hemoglobin variants presents the opportunity to develop sensitive immunochemical measurement techniques for such variants. In this study antibodies specific for human hemoglobins A1 and S were isolated from immune rabbit serum. These were labeled with either fluoroscein isothiocyanate or tetramethylrhodamine isothiocyanate. Erythrocytes suspended in agar were incubated with these labeled antibodies and hemoglobins A1, S, and F were identified within individual cells by fluorescence microscopy. This capability offers potential for more specific investigation into heterogenous distribution of specific hemoglobins within an erythroycte or bone marrow cell population and for developing a sensitive technique applicable to antenatal diagnosis of specific hemoglobinopathies.