Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of carriers of beta thalassemia among the apparently healthy population.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of University Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology, University of Lahore in collaboration with Kashif Iqbal Thalassemia Care Center and Punjab Thalassemia Prevention Program (PTPP) and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore from February 2017 to October 2019. We used non-probability convenience sampling. Study included 337 subjects who were normal on a general physical checkup and apparently healthy. Subjects with microcytic hypochromic indices were screened for beta thalassemia trait. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.
Results: Mean HbA2 was 5.34±0.6% (range 4.1%-6.3%). HbA level was 93.31±0.6% (range 92.40- 94.10%). HbF level in carrier group was 1.3±0.82% (range 0.70-3.10%).
Conclusion: The overall frequency of beta thalassemia carriers was found to be 2%. There were more male carriers.

Key words: Thalassemia trait, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin A, microcytic anemia.