title: Evaluation of naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility test in detecting beta-thalassemia trait.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, L.T.M.G. Hospital, Sion, Bombay.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raghavan
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lokeshwar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birewar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nigam
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Manglani
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Raju
mesh_terms: 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