Thalassemia and hemoglobin E (Hb E) are common in Thailand. Individuals with thalassemia trait usually have a normal\nhemoglobin concentration or mild anemia. Therefore, thalassemic individuals who have minimum acceptable Hb level may be\naccepted as blood donors. This study was aimed at determining the frequency of ?-thalassemia 1 trait, ?-thalassemia trait, and\nHb E-related syndromes in Southern Thai blood donors. One hundred and sixteen voluntary blood donors, Southern Thailand\norigin, were recruited for thalassemia and Hb E screening by red blood cell indices/dichlorophenolindophenol precipitation test.\n?-Thalassemia and Hb E were then identified by high performance liquid chromatography and 4 common ?-thalassemia deletions\nwere characterized by a single tube-multiplex gap-polymerase chain reaction. Overall frequency of hemoglobinopathies was 12.9%,\nclassified as follows: homozygous ?-thalassemia 2 (1.7%), heterozygous ?-thalassemia 1 (1.7%), heterozygous ?-thalassemia without\n?-thalassemia (0.9%), heterozygous Hb E without ?-thalassemia (5.2%), double heterozygotes for Hb E/?-thalassemia 1 (1.7%),\nhomozygous Hb E without ?-thalassemia (0.9%), and homozygousHb E with heterozygous ?-thalassemia 2 (0.9%). The usefulness\nof thalassemia screening is not only for receiving highly effective red blood cells in the recipients but also for encouraging the control\nand prevention program of thalassemia in blood donors.
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