Population screening for beta-thalassaemia.
The graphic recording of time to 50% haemolysis in a glycerine-saline solution is a simple, reproducible method of determining erythrocyte osmotic fragility. Studies on a normal population yielded an upper limit of normal of 90 s. In 250 healthy males from Northern Thailand all 19 with beta-thalassaemia minor had abnormal osmotic indices, and the value of the test was confirmed in beta-thalassaemia heterozygotes in Europe. Of 23 patients with iron deficiency 18 had abnormal osmotic indices. However, this is not thought likely to be a significant source of false positives in the screening of populations at risk of haemoglobinopathies but in whom iron deficiency is rare.
D005260:Female; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005860:Germany, West; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009996:Osmotic Fragility; D013785:Thailand; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*