Cord blood screening for haemoglobinopathies in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates

Newborn screening is an essential and productive preventive public health programme. Since 1993 cord blood screening for haemoglobinopathies was started in Tawam Hospital. Over a period of 28-month a total of 3986 cord blood samples were collected and systematically screened for haemoglobinopathies. The commonest abnormality detected was alpha thalassaemia trait in 27%