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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · J Lab Physicians 2009; 1(01): 015-018
DOI: 10.4103/0974-2727.54802
Original Article

Hunt for the Hidden Trait

Vanamala Alwar
Department of Clinical Pathology, St. John′s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India
,
Reeti Kavdia
Department of Clinical Pathology, St. John′s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India
,
Nandini Singh
Department of Clinical Pathology, St. John′s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India
,
Karuna Rameshkumar
Department of Clinical Pathology, St. John′s Medical College Hospital, Bangalore, India
› Author Affiliations Source of Support: Nil
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ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess the efficacy of a peripheral smear examination as a screening tool for β-thalassemia trait.

Materials and Methods: 17 623 Leishman-stained peripheral smears were evaluated during the period from July 2006 to September 2007. The following parameters were studied: hemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and red cell distribution width. All the cases that showed microcytosis, hypochromia, erythrocytosis and absence of anisopoikilocytosis were suspected of having the thalassemia trait (TT), and all these cases were further evaluated with Alkaline Hemoglobin Electrophoresis for confirmation.

Results: Of the 17 623 smears examined, 60 cases were considered suspicious of having TT. Alkaline hemoglobin electrophoresis carried out on all these cases revealed an elevated HbA 2 (Mean = 7.5%). Five cases evaluated were found to have other hemoglobinopathies (1 Sickle cell trait, 3 Hb-E, 1 thalassemia intermedia).

Conclusion: Careful screening of peripheral smear is an invaluable screening tool for thalassemia trait (PPV - 95%). There must be awareness among the peripheral centers about the importance of peripheral smear screening and the affected persons should be counseled.

Keywords

Iron deficiency anemia - peripheral smear - Thalassemia trait


Publication History

Article published online:
29 January 2020

© 2009.

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