Screening for beta-thalassaemia carriers in Egypt: significance of the osmotic fragility test
EMHJ-Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2007; 13 (4): 780-786
in English
| IMEMR
| ID: emr-157051
ABSTRACT
To estimate beta-thalassaemia carrier rate and to determine an accurate mass screening test, we tested 1000 randomly selected children aged 5-16 years from different geographical areas of Egypt. Microcytosis was present in 412 participants. The osmotic fragility test was positive in 81.1% of the 90 beta-thalassaemia carriers; in the indeterminate group [12 participants], the test was positive in 83.3%; in the 310 who were iron deficient, the test was positive in 63.9%. beta-thalassaemia carrier rate was >/= 9%. Serum iron, microcytosis, HbA2 level and transferrin saturation were accurate tests for detecting carriers. For the one-tube osmotic fragility test, sensitivity was 87.0% and specificity 34.1%; the test has limited use for a mass screening programme in Egypt, where iron deficiency is prevalent
Search on Google
Index:
IMEMR (Eastern Mediterranean)
Main subject:
Osmotic Fragility
/
Hemoglobin A2
/
Transferrin
/
Sensitivity and Specificity
/
Genetic Carrier Screening
/
Iron
Type of study:
Screening study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
East Mediterr Health J.
Year:
2007
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS