Neonatal screening for alpha-thalassemia in southern Taiwan.
Screening peripheral or cord blood from newborn infants has been used for early detection of alpha-thalassemia conditions. The level of hemoglobin Bart's (Hb Bart's) in the blood correlates with the degree of alpha-gene deletion. Hence, the degree of gene deletion in an alpha-thalassemia carrier state can be estimated. Two thousand cord blood samples collected from the Tainan area were screened with cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis for Hb Bart's. Ninety-nine of the 2,000 samples (4.95%) were positive for Hb Bart's. Concentrations of Hb Bart's varied from 3.2% to 30.7%. Of the 99 cases with Hb Bart's, 22 had Hb Bart's levels of 3.0% to 9.9%; 54 had Hb Bart's levels of 10.0% to 19.9%; and 23 had Hb Bart's levels of 20% to 40%. Routine cord blood screening by hemoglobin electrophoresis is recommended.
Department of Medical Technology, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
T M
TM
Lin
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HL
Eng
P L
PL
Kuo
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Wu
D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005914:Globins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis*
D006455:Hemoglobins, Abnormal; D005914:Globins; C030448:hemoglobin Bart's