TY - JOUR ID - TI - Utilization of the hematology autoanalyser as a screening test for iron deficiency anemia and β–thalassemia trait AU - Abdulsalam Hatem Mohammed AU - Abbas Hashim Abdulsalam PY - 2011 VL - 1 IS - 1 SP - 27 EP - 32 JO - Iraq Joural of Hematology المجلة العراقية لامراض الدم SN - 20728069 25432702 AB - Background: Hypochromic microcytic anemia is the most common encountered type of anemiaand it includes several types, iron deficiency and β-thalassemia trait are the commonestexamples, and since the definite diagnostic tests are not always available, therefore, themaximum utilization of the cell count autoanalysers for screening testing and reducingthe number of patients who needs the use of more specialized techniques can be useful.Objectives: To evaluate the results of hematology autoanalyser in iron deficiency anemia and β–thalassemia trait.Patients & Methods: This is a cohort prospective study in which two hundred newly diagnosedpatients with hypochromic anemia, and proved later to be either iron deficiency anemiaalone or β–thalassemia trait alone are included. These patients were attending theNational Center for Hematology from January 2009 to February 2010.Results: There is a highly significant difference in red cell count, hemoglobin concentration andhematocrit percent (p-value < 0.001, 0.003 and < 0.001 respectively) between irondeficiency anemia and β–thalassemia trait. A highly significant relation is found betweenhemoglobin concentration and other red cell parameters and white blood cells andplatelets count (p-value < 0.001 for all) in both types of anemia. Also a significantdifference is noted between hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit percent to identifyanemia in β–thalassemia trait (p-value 0.0236).Conclusions: Red blood cells count is mostly in the lower normal threshold or below in irondeficiency anemia, and it is in the upper normal threshold or above in β–thalassemiatrait. Β–thalassemia trait usually presents with milder anemia or even with lower normalHemoglobin concentration and hematochirt percent, while in iron deficiency the anemiais always clearly present. Relying on Hb concentration rather than on Hct percent toevaluate the presence of anemia makes its diagnosis more obvious. RDW higher than24.3 % is only associated with iron deficiency anemia.

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