Abstract
The effectiveness of the one tube method of osmotic fragility with three buffered solutions (0.32% saline, 0.36% saline, and tyrode) as a screening test for beta-thalassaemia trait was evaluated in several groups of subjects from Greece, Yugoslavia, and Thailand. The results clearly demonstrated that 0.36% saline is the most sensitive and effective solution since it could detect 96 to 100% of heterozygotes with beta-thalassaemia, compared to about 80% with both 0.32% saline and tyrode. However, 0.36% saline gave false positive results in normal subjects and was also positive in haematological disorders which influence osmotic fragility. The screening test with 0.36% saline was applied more precisely in 1371 subjects. The test was false positive in 41 (9.1%) of 455 normal subjects while of 438 confirmed heterozygotes with beta-thalassaemia it was positive in 431 (98%) and negative in only seven (2%). The test was also found to be positive in 80% of patients with iron deficiency anaemia and alpha-thalassaemia trait, in 68% of patients with Hb E trait, in 40% of patients with Hb S trait, and in 78% of heterozygotes with rare haemoglobin variants. The increased sensitivity and effectiveness of 0.36% saline in detecting beta-thalassaemia trait and other disorders influencing osmotic fragility as compared to 0.32% saline and tyrode solutions was also confirmed in a study of 384 unselected schoolchildren.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cao A., Galanello R., Furbetta M., Muroni P. P., Garbato L., Rosatelli C., Scalas M. T., Addis M., Ruggeri R., Maccioni L. Thalassaemia types and their incidence in Sardinia. J Med Genet. 1978 Dec;15(6):443–447. doi: 10.1136/jmg.15.6.443. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Efremov C. D., Huisman T. H., Bowman K., Wrightstone R. N., Shroeder W. A. Microchromatography of hemoglobins. II. A rapid method for the determination of hemoglobin A2. J Lab Clin Med. 1974 Apr;83(4):657–664. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kattamis C., Metaxotou-Mavromati A., Wood W. G., Nash J. R., Weatherall D. J. The heterogeneity of normal Hb A2-beta thalassaemia in Greece. Br J Haematol. 1979 May;42(1):109–123. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1979.tb03703.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kattamis C., Metaxotou-Mavromnati A., Konidaris C., Touliatos N., Constantsas N., Matsaniotis N. Iron deficiency in Greece. Epidemiologic and hematologic studies. J Pediatr. 1974 May;84(5):666–671. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(74)80007-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- MALAMOS B., FESSAS P., STAMATOYANNOPOULOS G. Types of thalassaemia-trait carriers as revealed by a study of their incidence in Greece. Br J Haematol. 1962 Jan;8:5–14. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1962.tb06489.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pearson H. A., O'Brien R. T., McIntosh S. Screening for thalassemia trait by electronic measurement of mean corpuscular volume. N Engl J Med. 1973 Feb 15;288(7):351–353. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197302152880706. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pootrakul S., Sapprapa S., Wasi P., Na-Nakorn S., Suwanik R. Haemoglobin synthesis in 28 obligatory cases for alpha-thalassemia traits. Humangenetik. 1975 Sep 10;29(2):121–126. doi: 10.1007/BF00430348. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]