Assessment of the fluorescent spot test as a screening method for G6PD deficiency

Various screening tests are devised to detect glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. The selected method should be easy, should give reliable results on G6PD deficiency, and detect heterozygosity as well as heterogeneity of G6PD. We selected the fluorescent spot test for our population studies. To assess the validity of the fluorescent spot test, 33 positive controls, 12 negative and 9 doubtful results were assayed quantitatively. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis was done on all samples. The fluorescent spot test correlated well with the quantitative results. Heterozygosity as well as heterogeneity of G6PD deficiency could be inferred from the negative and doubtful results