A Screening Test for Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Thalassaemia Traits

Both iron deficiency and thalassaemia trait can present with hypochromic microcytic morphology. Naked eye single tube red cell osmotic fragility (NESTROF) is an inexpensive and simple test which can effectively differentiate iron deficiency anaemia from thalassaemia trait. Our study was an opportunity to observe the role of NESTROF in screening of thalassaemia trait among our study population. Initially NESTROF was carried out in 677 patients (N) population of four groups having both positive and negative NESTORF; for economical issue, auto-analyzer study and haemoglobin electrophoresis were done among only 100 randomly selected subjects, who were finally included in our study as final study population (n). In our study, NESTROF was 94.23% sensitive and its specificity was 92.08%. The predictive value of a positive test was 88.13% and predictive value of a negative test was 96.24%. Our study showed, NESTROF can effectively differentiate iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) from thalassaemia trait but, is not effective in co-existent IDA and thalassaemia.J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2014; 32: 190-193

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Role of Red Cell Distribution Width Index for Differentiation of Iron Deficiency Anaemia and Beta Thalassemia Trait

Indian Journal of Pathology Research and Practice ◽

10.21088/ijprp.2278.148x.9220.20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2 (Part- I)) ◽

pp. 117-120

Author(s):

Vibha Aithal A

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Red Cell Distribution Width ◽

Beta Thalassemia ◽

Red Cell ◽

Cell Distribution ◽

Distribution Width ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Thalassemia Trait

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Red Cell Indices and Functions Differentiating Patients with the β-Thalassaemia Trait from those with Iron Deficiency Anaemia

Journal of International Medical Research ◽

10.1177/147323000903700103 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 25-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

V Okan ◽

A Cigiloglu ◽

S Cifci ◽

M Yilmaz ◽

M Pehlivan

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Red Cell ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Thalassaemia Trait ◽

Red Cell Indices

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Evaluation of the new red cell parameters on Beckman Coulter DxH800 in distinguishing iron deficiency anaemia from thalassaemia trait

International Journal of Laboratory Hematology ◽

10.1111/ijlh.12262 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 37 (2) ◽

pp. 199-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

E. H. Y. Ng ◽

J. H. W. Leung ◽

Y. S. Lau ◽

E. S. K. Ma

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Red Cell ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Cell Parameters ◽

Thalassaemia Trait

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Differentiation of Beta Thalassemia Trait and Iron Deficiency Anaemia by Red Cell Indices

Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh ◽

10.3329/jafmc.v13i2.41373 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 39-41

Author(s):

Md Nurunnabi ◽

Mosammath Khadiza Mamdu ◽

Mohammad Maksudur Rahman ◽

Farzana Zafreen ◽

Md Abdul Wahab

Keyword(s):

Iron Deficiency ◽

Predictive Value ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Red Cell ◽

Cell Distribution ◽

Distribution Width ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Rbc Indices ◽

Automated Cell Counter ◽

Cell Counter

Introduction: Beta thalassaemia trait (β-TT) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) are the most frequent causes of hypochromic microcytic anaemia in Bangladesh. Differentiation between βTT and IDA is important for proper treatment of patients. Red blood cell (RBC) indices obtained from automated cell counter can be used to differentiate between two. Objective: To compare among three RBC indices; red cell distribution width (RDW), red cell distribution width index (RDWI) and Mentzer’s index to differentiate between βTT and IDA. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted on 50 diagnosed cases of β-TT and 50 cases of IDA at the department of pathology, BNS Patenga, Bangladesh from January 2016 to December 2017. Patients with Hb <6.0 gm/dl was excluded because below this level IDA and β-TT morphologically become very much distinguishable. RDW, RDWI and Mentzer’s index were calculated from the automated cell counter. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated to compare diagnostic value of the indices. Results: Mentzer’s index was found the most reliable index as it had the highest sensitivity 95.1% and specificity 84.8% for detecting IDA. RDWI showed much lower sensitivity 91.2% and specificity 66.2% while RDW showed sensitivity and specificity of 83.2% and 61.1% respectively. Conclusion: Mentzer’s index is a reliable and useful index for differentiation between IDA and β-TT compared to other two indices. Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.13(2) 2017: 39-41

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Discriminant Red Cell Indices for Microcytic Hypochromic Anaemia in Distinguishing Beta Thalassaemia Trait and Iron Deficiency Anaemia: A Systematic Review

JOURNAL FOR CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH ◽

10.7860/jcdr/2021/43521.14458 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ankita Sain ◽

Arvind Bhake ◽

Anil Agrawal ◽

Sophia Thomas

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Iron Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Red Cell ◽

Diagnostic Reliability ◽

Deficiency Anaemia ◽

Beta Thalassaemia ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Thalassaemia Trait ◽

Red Cell Indices

Introduction: Numerous red cell indices are in practice for surveillance of Microcytic Hypochromic (MCHC) anaemia in determination of their aetiology to the Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) and Beta Thalassaemia Trait (BTT). The studies have revealed that there exists the discrepancies for Sensitivity (SN) and Specificity (SP) for any single index conclusive to classify them to the categories of IDA and BTT. A comparative review is needed as to know which index is suitable to discriminate between above two major entities under MCHC anaemia, which can be put to the practice in resource poor laboratories. Aim: A systematic review was planned for diagnostic reliability of red cell indices that segregates IDA from BTT in a morphological classification of MCHC anaemia. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in a database that yielded 36 studies dealing with one or more of the five included indices (Mentzer index, Bessman index, Green and King index, Srivastava index and Sirdah index) in the present analysis. The data for SN and SP of these indices were collected and compared from their performance at discrimination between IDA and BTT and Youden index was calculated to compare the performance of individual index. Results: Of these five indices, the comparative statistics has shown Green and King index works well at the SN of 79.37% and SP of 82.54% as compared to the rest of the indices. The second closest index that is practicable at discriminating IDA from BTT is Mentzer index. Conclusion: None of the indices can be completely relied upon to achieve a conclusive segregation. However, Green and King and Mentzer indices can be used for screening the suspected population to identify patients which may need the specialised tests to confirm the diagnosis to bring this population under proper treatment either for IDA or BTT.

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