Thalassemia Faq's

A screening policy exists in Cyprus to reduce the incidence of thalassemia, which since the program's implementation in the 1970s (which also includes pre-natal screening and abortion) has reduced the number of children born with the hereditary blood disease from 1 out of every 158 births to almost zero.
In Iran as a premarital screening, the man's red cell indices are checked first, if he has microcytosis (mean cell haemoglobin < 27 pg or mean red cell volume < 80 fl), the woman is tested. When both are microcytic their haemoglobin A2 concentrations are measured. If both have a concentration above 3.5% (diagnostic of thalassaemia trait) they are referred to the local designated health post for genetic counseling.

In 2008, in Spain, a baby was selectively implanted in order to be a cure for his brother's thalassemia. The child was born from an embryo screened to be free of the disease before implantation with In vitro fertilization. The baby's supply of immunocompatible cord blood was saved for transplantation to his brother. The transplantation was considered successful.

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