Interference of fetal hemoglobin in the determination of carboxyhemoglobin by spectrophotometry. Issue 2 (2nd April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vaillancourt, Lucie; Desharnais, Brigitte; Goudreau, Nathalie; Mireault, Pascal
• Is Part Of: Journal. Volume 49:Issue 2(2016)
• Page Start: 69
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2016-04-02
• Subjects: Forensic toxicology -- carboxyhemoglobin -- fetal hemoglobin -- spectrophotometry -- neonates -- false positive; Toxicologie judiciaire -- carboxyhémoglobine -- hémoglobine fœtale -- spectrophotométrie -- enfants -- faux positifs; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Criminal investigation -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 363.2506071
• DOI: 10.1080/00085030.2015.1115692
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-5030

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Determination of carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO) is routinely performed in suspected cases of carbon monoxide intoxication and unexplained deaths. However, some authors have suggested that measured HbCO may be falsely elevated in infants (0–12 months) due to the presence of fetal hemoglobin (HbF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of fetal hemoglobin on the spectro-photometric determination of carboxyhemoglobin. The interference of HbF in the determination of HbCO in infants aged from 0 to 12 months was evaluated using 16 ante-mortem and 19 post-mortem blood samples. The %HbCO was quantified spectrophotometrically by calculating the 560 nm/530 nm absorbance ratio, using a dual-beam spectrophotometer. The average measured HbCO in infants of 3 months of age or under was 17%, which is abnormally elevated. No significant difference in HbCO measurement was found between ante-mortem and post-mortem samples. These results highlight the fact that care must be taken in interpretation of carboxyhemoglobin measurements in infants when using a spectrophotometric method.