Evaluation of naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test in detecting beta-thalassemia trait.
The Naked Eye Single Tube Red Cell Osmotic Fragility Test (NESTROFT) was applied to 4 groups of subjects: (i) Normal; (ii) Proven beta-thalassemia trait carriers; (iii) Iron deficiency anemia; and (iv) other hemoglobinopathies, to evaluate its effectiveness as a screening test for beta-thalassemia minor. The test was successful in detecting 105/110 subjects with beta-thalassemia trait. The sensitivity of the test was 95.5% and specificity was 87%. The predictive value of the positive test was 70.5% and that of the negative test was 98.3%. NESTROFT was also positive in 9/17 subjects with HbS trait, in 3/3 subjects with HbD trait and in 1/1 subjects with HbE trait. The test proved to be simple, cheap, easy to perform and adaptable for field surveys, coming close to an ideal screening test for beta-thalassemia minor.
Raghavan
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, L.T.M.G. Hospital, Sion, Bombay.
Lokeshwar
M R
MR
Birewar
N
N
Nigam
V
V
Manglani
M V
MV
Raju
N B
NB
D002648:Child; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004906:Erythrocyte Count; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006403:Hematologic Tests / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics