Method of screening for sickle cell disease by detection of porphyrins and porphyrin metabolites in human dentition

摘要

A method of screening for sickle cell disease is provided by detecting the presence of porphyrins and porphyrin metabolites in human teeth comprising cleaning the teeth, exposing the cleaned teeth in vivo to a source of light, which has a wavelength known to excite the fluorescent emission spectrum characteristic of porphyrins and porphyrin metabolites and, optimally, which emits a wavelength of about 360 nm, detecting fluorescence, either visually or photographically, and determining the presence of porphyrins or porphyrin metabolites by emission of fluorescence characteristic thereto.