The efficiency of MCH level for differentiation between normal and alpha thalassemia trait from the sample group with Normal Hb Typing, not rule out alpha-thalassemia results in Sawanpracharak Hospital.
Abstract
Abstract
Background : Alpha thalassemia is a hereditary anemia disease caused by disorders of hemoglobin (Hb) synthesis in which the body doesn't make as much alpha globin, resulting in inefficient red blood cell production, which damages erythroblasts and causes anemia. The laboratory investigation plays an important role on control and prevention for a risk couple having a child with severe thalassemia syndrome. In practice, Hb Typing method must be performed in order to find a risk couple but Hb Typing method cannot separate alpha-thalassemia trait with Normal, so be confirmed by PCR method. Sometimes, PCR results are normal. This causes additional a waste of budget, increased workload, and patients wasting time waiting.
Objectives : To evaluate the efficiency of MCH level to exclude normal people from the Nrmal Hb Typing, not rule out alpha-thalassemia group from a pregnant woman and her husband who came to the obstetrics and gynecology department for prenatal care.
Method of study : Evaluating retrospective data of RBC parameters in the hospital, patients with Hb Typing results as A2A Normal Hb typing, Not rule out alpha-thalassemia and confirmed by PCR from September 2023- October 2024.
Results : The MCH level ≥ 22.2 picograms gave the sensitivity of 98.1% and specificity of 96.4% for differentiation of normal people from Normal Hb Typing, not rule out alpha-thalassemia from a pregnant woman and her husband. The positive predictive value, the negative predictive value and the efficiency of test result were 94.6%, 98.8% and 97.1% respectively.
Conclusions : MCH level ≥ 22.2 picograms is a good tool for differentiation of normal people from Normal Hb Typing, not rule out alpha-thalassemia.
Keywords : MCH, alpha-thalassemia, differentiation
