Screening of β-Thalassemia Trait among Pregnant Women with NESTROFT

The morbidity of β-thalassemia major has forced medical professionals to formulate screening tests to effectively screen β-thalassemia trait (BTT) of which naked eye single tube osmotic fragility test (NESTROFT) is the most cost effective test. Optimal time to screen for BTT appears to be during pregnancy, as at risk couples can be offered prenatal diagnosis. We screened 55 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a medical college hospital at Bangalore, with NESTROFT. Twelve (21.89%) were NESTROFT positive with mean hemoglobin of 11.2 mg % and packed cell volume of 32.6%. Catering predominantly to Vokkaliga community in whom literature reports increased prevalence of BTT, addition of a cost effective test like NESTROFT in the antenatal panel, appears promising.