Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies Screening by Osmotic Fragility (OF) and Dichlorophenol Indophenol Precipitation (DCIP) Tests Among Vocational Students in Ubon Ratchathani Province

Rungnapa   Munthreepak; Somsak Suthutvoravut; Jumlong Vongprasert

doi:10.33165/rmj.2021.44.2.249723

Authors

Rungnapa Munthreepak Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand / Regional Health Promotion Center 10, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Somsak Suthutvoravut Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Jumlong Vongprasert Program of Applied Statistics, Faculty of Science, Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33165/rmj.2021.44.2.249723

Keywords:

Thalassemia screening, OF test, DCIP test, Vocational students, Hemoglobin E

Abstract

Background: Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies are the most common and clinically serious single gene disorders. Screening by osmotic fragility (OF) test and dichlorophenol indophenol precipitation (DCIP) test have been found to be effective and low-cost approaches to identify those who are carriers especially among young population.

Objective: To study the prevalence rates of abnormal of OF test and/or abnormal DCIP test among vocational students in Ubon Ratchathani province.

Methods: This cross-sectional research collected data from 311 students aged 15 to 19 years in a vocational school in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand. OF and DCIP tests were done after participants signed consent to join the study. Knowledge and attitude towards thalassemia and thalassemia screening was obtained from self-administered questionnaires. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were performed to examine the association between variables.

Results: Of 311 students, 124 (39.9%) students had abnormal OF test or DCIP test or both, 72 (23.2%) students had both DCIP and OF tests positive. The final diagnosis was that 75.8% had hemoglobin E, 21.8% and 2.4% were α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia carriers respectively. Approximately, 91.4% of them considered thalassemia screening useful and necessary for premarital screening.

Conclusions: High incidence of abnormal OF test and/or DCIP test was found among vocational students in Ubon Ratchathani province, showing a predominance of hemoglobin E. Most of them agreed that thalassemia screening is useful for adolescents to avoid marriage among carriers.

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