Hemoglobin Colorimetric Detection Kit

The DetectX^® Hemoglobin Colorimetric Detection Kit uses a single reaction solution that is stable at 4°C, is not light sensitive, and does not contain dangerous chemicals. All forms of hemoglobin are rapidly converted to a single stable form that is measured photometrically at 560-580 nm. A human hemoglobin standard is provided to generate a standard curve for the assay.

Hemoglobin (Hgb) is an erythrocyte protein complex comprised of two sets of identical pairs of subunits, each of which bind an iron-prophyrin group commonly called heme. Generally containing two alpha or alpha-like globin chains, the remaining subunits may be beta, gamma, delta or epsilon, or in the case of infants, fetal hemoglobin that is replaced during the first year of life. Heme binds and releases oxygen or carbon dioxide in response to slight changes in local gas tension. Free oxygen or carbon dioxide bound by one heme group facilitates subsequent binding by the other heme groups in a given hemoglobin molecule. Subtle changes in pH also regulate hemoglobin affinity for free gases, resulting in a high level of hemostatic control. Hemoglobin values are associated with a variety of conditions ranging from anemias (low Hgb), erythrocytosis (high Hgb), thalassemias (aberrant chain synthesis), and sickling disorders (abnormal complex shape).