Prevalence of thalassemia minor trait in Pakistani population presented at Akuh for complete blood count estimation (CBC).

Thalassemia is defined as a condition in which reduced rate of synthesis of one or more of the globin chains leads to defective haemoglobin production. Of the two major types, in alphathalassemia, occhain synthesis is absent or diminished and in beta-thalassemia, B-chain synthesis is absent or diminished. In B-thalassemia, anaemia occurs due to reduced B globulin, which in turn reduces HbA resulting in reduced MCHC and hypochromicity of the cells. Thalassemia minor is usually diagnosed by measuring concentration of HbA2, complete blood count and blood film examination. However, relatively simpler and inexpensive methods have been reported before for quick discrimination between iron deficiency and thalassemia minor trait. The present study is designed to estimate incidence of thalassemia minor using the proposed formula of England and Fraser in Pakistani population.