Thalassemias: Tests
Thalassemias are inherited blood disorders. Thalassemias cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells.
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About Thalassemia Tests
Doctors diagnose thalassemias using blood tests, including a complete blood count (CBC) and special hemoglobin tests.
A CBC measures the amount of hemoglobin and the different kinds of blood cells, such as red blood cells, in a sample of blood. People who have thalassemias have fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin than normal in their blood. People who have alpha or beta thalassemia trait may have red blood cells that are smaller than normal. Hemoglobin tests measure the types of hemoglobin in a blood sample. People who have thalassemias have problems with the alpha or beta globin protein chains of hemoglobin.Moderate and severe thalassemias usually are diagnosed in early childhood. This is because signs and symptoms, including severe anemia, often occur within the first 2 years of life.
People who have milder forms of thalassemia might be diagnosed after a routine blood test… Read more about Thalassemias: Tests