ABSTRACT
Aim: The intent of this study is to report the distribution of hemoglobin variants among teenagers in South -West Nigeria. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place/Duration: Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, South-West Nigeria between September 2013 and March 2015. Methods: Hemoglobin (Hb) variants were determined in two thousand, four hundred and six teenagers using the alkaline electrophoresis method. Results: The distribution of Hemoglobin electrophoresis is as follows; HbAA 1821 (75.7%), HbAS 498 (20.7%), HbAC 47 (2.0%), HbCC 01 (0.0%), HbSC 12 (0.5%), HbSS 27 (1.1%). Conclusion: The incidence of hemoglobinopathies is reduced among the teenagers in South- West Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Background: Current Leishman staining technique for staining thin blood films for differential leukocyte count is too time consuming to meet emergency needs in hospitalized patients with infectious and other deadly diseases. This study aimed at discovering optimal phenol: Leishman powder ratio appropriate for modified Leishman stain and finding an optimized staining reaction and facilitating rapid cellular analysis of blood without alteration in quantity and quality. Methodology: Leishman stain was modified using phenol crystals and liquefied phenol. Various ratios of phenol and Leishman powder were experimented in absolute methanol. Fixing and staining times of staining process were manipulated to develop new staining procedures that gave optimal staining reaction on thin blood films prepared within two hours of receipt. Results were presented as photomicrographs of stained slides. Results: 30mg and 50mg of phenol crystals or 30μL and 50μL of liquefied phenol were required to give 1:5 and 1:3 phenol: Leishman powder ratios respectively. Two modified Leishman staining techniques were developed. The first fixed thin blood films for 25 seconds and stained for 50 seconds while the second technique fixed slides for 1 minute Original Research Article RRRreResearch…….. Article British Journal of Medicine & Medical Research, 4(27): 4591-4606, 2014 4592 and stained for 3 minutes. Photomicrographs of thin blood films showed excellent staining results that compared well with the conventional technique. Conclusion: Unlike the conventional method which requires a total of 10-12 minutes, to complete the staining process, modified Leishman staining techniques require only 75.0 seconds and 4.0 minutes! Batches of blood films can be stained within a short time thus facilitating rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients.