title: Community-initiated screening programme for beta-thalassaemia trait.
abstract: Seven hundred and ninety-five people, (96% of whom were of Greek origin) were screened for thalassaemia trait. A prevalence rate of 7.1% for beta-thalassaemia carriers was found. The red cells of individuals with the alpha-1-thalassaemia, beta-thalassaemia, and haemoglobin Lepore traits all had a mean corpuscular volume (MCV) of less than 76 fL and a mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) of less than 25 pg, thus confirming the usefulness of these indices as a preliminary thalassaemia screening test. However, in three of the six people provisionally diagnosed as having delta-beta-thalassaemia trait, an overlap of MCV and MCH values with the normal range occurred. Community attitudes to the survey and its implications are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening / Q000379:methods*; D006115:Greece / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*