title: Evaluation of M/H ratio for screening of beta thalassaemia trait.
abstract: This study was done to evaluate the efficiency of M/H ratio between the percentages of microcytic and hypochromic cells as a screening procedure for thalassaemia trait in Pakistani population. A total of 150 subjects, were included in this study. The analysis of results revealed that M/H ratio is a very sensitive index for beta thalassaemia trait. The sensitivity, predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of the M/H ratio for beta thalassaemia trait was 100%, 90.4% and 90.4% respectively. It also picked up all cases of beta thalassaemia trait with co-existent iron deficiency. It is therefore concluded that M/H ratio is an easy, reliable and sensitive index which can be used for mass screening of beta thalassaemia trait, particularly in a population where iron deficiency is also prevalent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: T Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004909:Erythrocyte Indices; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology