Diagnosis of α-thalassemia

Objective To investigate the advantages and disadvantages of emoglobin electrophoresis test and PCR-aided gene confirmatory test for clinical diagnosis of α-thalassemia.Methods The blood samples from the newborn babies,those of obstetric departments and prmarittal health checkup were screened by using red cell fragility test.The psoitive samples weire diagnosed by the hemoglobin electrophoresis test and the PCR-aided ene confirmatory test.The results of diagnosis of α-thalassemia between the two methods were compared.Results Totally7 820 blood sampleswere screened.1 526 of7 820 cases were positive after checked by red cell fragility test,covering 19.51% of the total(including α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia patients).The 1 526 cases were tested by the hemoglobin electrophoresis test,822 cases of them were diagnosed as a-thalassemia(53.87%),785 cases were psotive by 785 cases were confirmatory,covering 51.44% of the positive case.With positive rate of 51.44% in Guangdong area.These two methods showed no statistically signigicant differences in dagnosis ofα-thalassemia.Conclusion Hemoglobin electrophoresis test is an economic,simple and quick method for the diagnosis of α—thalassemia and it is worthy for application in clinical laboratory.