Proposed screening criteria for beta-thalassemia trait during early pregnancy in southern China.

This study was carried out to evaluate whether it is effective to use mean corpuscular volume (MCV) <80 fL as a screening test in the first step of screening for beta-thalassemia (beta-thal) trait in southern China. The data of hematological testing in the first or early second trimester of gestation of 449 pregnant women who underwent prenatal diagnosis for beta-thal were retrospectively reviewed. Of these, six (1.

Hydrops fetalis caused by homozygous alpha-thalassemia and Kidd antigen alloimmunization in a Chinese woman.

We report a case with hydrops fetalis resulting from homozygous alpha-thalassemia and alloimmune hemolytic anemia due to anti-JK3. This is one of the few cases with immune- and nonimmune-induced hydrops fetalis.

[Follow-up of 3 605 cord blood donors after 6 months of cord blood donation in Guangzhou cord blood bank].

To study the program of evaluating mothers and infants after 6 months of cord blood donation, from June 1998 to February 2004, all mothers after 6 months of cord blood donation were followed-up by phone calls or letters to report on the health condition. The results showed that when 3 195 mothers were visited by phone calls, 18 mothers declined to answer. 392 letter were send to those who could not be found by phone, 15 of whom wrote back.

[Studies on safety of cordocentesis guided by transabdominal ultrasound for prenatal diagnosis].

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of diagnostic cordocentesis during pregnancy.

Methods: During March 1990 to June 2003, 2403 consecutive cordocenteses were performed under transabdominal ultrasound guidance at Guangzhou Women and Children's Hospital. The results of each procedure was prospectively collected and subsequently analysed in terms of operational complications and pregnancy outcomes.

Carrier screening for alpha- and beta-thalassemia in pregnancy: the results of an 11-year prospective program in Guangzhou Maternal and Neonatal hospital.

Objectives: To evaluate the first prospective screening program in China for control of alpha and beta-thalassemia in the population of pregnant couples.

Methods: During the period between January 1993 and December 2003, a hospital-based preventive program was conducted at the biggest birth center in Guangzhou, with 1/17 of all deliveries in this city referred annually by use of conventional heterozygote screening strategy in combination with the system of regular healthcare examination in pregnancy.

Results: The screened records included 49 221 pregnant women, and 4503 husbands of the pregnant women showed positive on the screening test.

[Use of capillary electrophoresis to determine hemoglobin A2 in healthy adults and alpha- and beta-thalassemia carriers].

Objective: To evaluate the capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF) method for the estimation of blood hemoglobin A2 (Hb A2) concentrations in routine thalassemia screening.

Methods: A total of 105 samples from healthy adults and 93 samples with positive phenotypes were collected by routine thalassemia screening. CIEF was compared with Helena spife combo electrophoresis system for Hb A2 measurement and its precision and reproducibility were tested by analyzing intra-assay or inter-assay coefficient of variations(CVs).