Antenatal screening for thalassemia carrier at tertiary care centre

Background: Thalassemia syndromes are the commonest genetic disorders of blood and constitute a vast public health problem with 2.78 to 4% prevalence in India. The most effective feasible approach reduce incidence thalassemia major is implementation carrier screening program screen antenatal women early pregnancy. Methods: Institutional based cross sectional observational study was conducted. We screened 400 by performing preliminary test red cell indices, Mentzer index confirmatory high performance liquid chromatography. Husbands positive were also tested find out couples on risk. Results: Out screened, 46 required HbA2 estimation, 11 (2.8%) diagnosed as β-thalassemia minor positive. Most primigravida mean (SD) age gestational these 23.8 (3.1) years 11.8 (1.7) weeks, respectively. Amongst mild moderately anemic had significantly greater TRBC count. Ninety one percent MCV<77. All MCH<27. Eighty two MI<13. None couple at-risk detected. So, 2.8%. Conclusions: monogenetic disorder autosomal recessive streak. Universal window complete counts, hematological indices (MCV, MCH, TRBC), HPLC may lead non-pyrrhic victory over this odious entity.