Table 4. Descriptive statistics for the study sample (n=418) categorized according to carrier status based on HbA₂ gold standard and MCV< 80 fL.

P value: Significance level from Mann-Whitney U test.

Parameter	Carrier status based on HbA2 ≥ 3.5%
	Carrier (n=42)					Not carrier (n=376)
	Normal MCV<br>(n=12)		MCV<80<br>(n=30)		MWU<br>(p)	Normal MCV<br>(n=267)		MCV <80<br>(n=109)		MWU<br>(p)
	Mean	SD	Mean	SD		Mean	SD	Mean	SD
MCV	85.5	3.9	63.0	5.2	<0.001	86.5	3.9	72.6	6.4	<0.001
MCH	1.82	0.07	1.35	0.45	<0.001	1.83	0.09	1.47	0.18	<0.001
MCHC	21.3	0.44	20.1	0.62	<0.001	21.1	0.60	20.1	0.86	<0.001
RDW	13.3	0.81	15.3	1.6	<0.001	13.4	1.1	15.7	2.6	<0.001
Hb	139	17	123	16	<0.001	136	19	115	23	0.01
Hct	0.40	0.04	0.37	0.04	<0.001	0.39	0.05	0.35	0.06	0.138
RBC	4.8	0.54	6.0	0.82	0.006	4.6	0.63	4.9	0.60	<0.001