Foetal Haemoglobin (HbF)

Notes

HbF levels are only reported when found to be abnormal. Elevated HbF levels may be found in children under 1 year of age, pregnancy (upto 5%) and in conditions such as Hereditary Persistence of Foetal Haemoglobin (HPFH) and delta beta thalassaemia.

Result interpretation is difficult in patients who have received a recent blood transfusion, or a Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) or gene therapy. If the patient has received a blood transfusion the haemoglobinopathy screen must be repeated after 4 months from the last transfusion.