In clinical settings, the haptoglobin assay is used to screen for and monitor intravascular hemolytic anemia. In intravascular hemolysis, free hemoglobin will be released into circulation and hence haptoglobin will bind the hemoglobin. This causes a decline in haptoglobin levels.
The protein was discovered as a "plasma substance" in 1938 by French biochemists Max-Fernand Jayle and Michel Polonovski.[9][10]
^"Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Dobryszycka W (September 1997). "Biological functions of haptoglobin--new pieces to an old puzzle". European Journal of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry. 35 (9): 647–654. PMID9352226.
^Wassell J (2000). "Haptoglobin: function and polymorphism". Clinical Laboratory. 46 (11–12): 547–552. PMID11109501.