In a hemoglobin electrophoresis test for a sickle cell trait patient, what would be the typical hemoglobin percentages?

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In a patient with sickle cell trait, which is a heterozygous condition (genotype AS), there is typically a mixture of normal hemoglobin (Hgb A) and sickle hemoglobin (Hgb S). The normal distribution of hemoglobin types in individuals with sickle cell trait generally trends towards having a higher percentage of Hgb A compared to Hgb S.

In this case, selecting the option where Hgb A is at 60% and Hgb S is at 38% aligns with the expected hemoglobin percentages found in individuals with sickle cell trait. This range reflects the predominance of normal hemoglobin as opposed to sickle hemoglobin, indicating that while sickle hemoglobin is present, it does not exceed half of the hemoglobin composition.

Typically, Hgb A can make up about 60-70% of the hemoglobin in sickle cell trait, while Hgb S usually falls in a range that is lower. Understanding the physiology of hemoglobin and its variants helps in interpreting these percentages. This option correctly illustrates that Hgb A is the predominant form of hemoglobin in sickle cell trait patients.

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