[
    {
        "id": "osp-11732",
        "type": "article-journal",
        "title": "Diagnosis of Beta-Thalassaemia Carriers in the Sultanate of Oman",
        "author": [
            {
                "family": "Daar",
                "given": "Shahina"
            },
            {
                "family": "Gravell",
                "given": "David"
            }
        ],
        "URL": "https://omanscience.com/en/articles/diagnosis-of-beta-thalassaemia-carriers-in-the-sultanate-of-oman",
        "language": "en",
        "issued": {
            "date-parts": [
                [
                    2025
                ]
            ]
        },
        "container-title": "Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal",
        "volume": "6",
        "issue": "1",
        "page": "27-31",
        "DOI": "10.18295/2075-0528.2615",
        "publisher": "Sultan Qaboos University",
        "ISSN": "2075-051X",
        "abstract": "Background: Haemoglobinopathies are a major cause of morbidity in the Sultanate of Oman and premarital screening is being encouraged in order to reduce the number of affected births. The identification of β-thalassaemia carrier status is an essential prerequisite of any screening programme. However, the level of Haemoglobin (Hb) A2, which is used to detect β-thalassaemia carriers, can be affected by other factors including iron deficiency, concurrent α thalassaemia and the type of DNA mutation present. Objectives:The following study was undertaken to ascertain if the Hb A2 level is an appropriate tool for the identification of β-thalassaemia carriers in the Omani population. Method: Hb A2 was measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in 160 obligate carriers of β-thalassaemia. 158 subjects had Hb A2 levels above 3.5% indicating β-thalassaemia trait. Two subjects had slightly lower levels and were found to be iron deficient. After therapy both these subjects’ Hb A2 levels increased to above 3.5%. Conclusion: In the absence of iron deficiency, Hb A2 is an accurate marker for the presence of β-thalassaemia trait in the Sultanate of Oman."
    }
]