Fluorescent spot test for screening erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in newborn babies

A correlative study of the fluorescent spot test and methemoglobin reduction test with the actual glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme activities is presented. The fluorescent spot test was found to have 100 per cent correlation in detecting G-6-PD activity in the hemizygotic male babies. In heterozygous or homozygous females, the test detected only 20 per cent of deficient subjects; but there were no false positive results. The methemoglobin reduction test, however, gave both false positive and false negative results. In a series of 447 jaundiced Chinese newborn babies, 18.5 per cent were associated with G-6-PD deficiency; 20.6 per cent of the male babies and 15.5 per cent (estimated) female babies were found to be deficient in the enzyme.