Thalassemia among blood donors at the hospital universiti sains Malaysia

• Published in: Southeast Asian journal of tropical medicine and public health Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 549 - 552
• Main Authors: ROSLINE, H, AHMED, S. A, AL-JOUDI, F. S, RAPIAAH, M, NAING, N. N, NOR ATIFAH MOHD ADAM
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bangkok Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network 01.05.2006; Central Coordinating Board, SEAMEO-TROPMED Project
• Subjects: Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Donors; Diseases of red blood cells; Electrophoresis; Female; General aspects; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Mass Screening - methods; Medical sciences; Prevalence; Thalassemia - blood; Thalassemia - classification; Thalassemia - diagnosis; Asia; Malaysia; Hemoglobinopathy; Hemolytic anemia; Tropical medicine; Thalassemia; Hemopathy; Hospital; Genetic disease; Blood donor
• ISSN: 0125-1562

The aim of this study was to screen and identify the types of thalassemia among blood donors at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM). Thalassemia screening was performed by hemoglobin electrophoresis. A total number of 80 blood samples were obtained from donors at the Transfusion Medicine Unit, HUSM. The ethnic origins of the donors were Malays (n=73, 91.3%) and non-Malays (n=7, 8.75%). Males comprised 88.1% of the donors. Thalassemia was detected in 16.25% (n=13) of the blood donors. Of those with thalassemia, 46.2% (6/13) were anemic. Microcytosis and hypochromia were detected in 84.6% (n=l1) and 84.6% (n=l1) of these donors, respectively. The types of thalassemias detected were Hb E, 11.25% (n=9/80) and beta thalassemia trait, 5% (n=4/80). Among the thalassemias detected, the Hb E hemoglobinopathy was comprised of Hb E/ alpha-thalassemia (38.5%: n=5), Hb E /beta-thalassemia (23.1%: n=3), Hb E trait (7.6%: n=1) and beta-thalassemia (30.8%: n=4). In conclusion, screening for thalassemia trait should be included as part of a standard blood testing before blood donation. Further studies are required to look at the effects of donated thalassemic blood.