AT A GLANCE COMMENTARY
Winichagoon P, et al. Background
Screening and diagnosis of a-thalassemia are
essential for prevention and control of Bart’s hydrops fetalis, the most severe and lethal thalas- semia disease, which is currently performed by he- moglobin (Hb) analysis, Hb H inclusion bodies, and genotyping using polymerase chain reaction technique.
Translational Significance
Immunochromatographic strip test was developed for rapid screening of a-thalassemia by testing for Hb Bart’s in blood samples. In combination with hematologic data, the immunochromatographic strip test could rule out mass populations for further a0-thalassemia detection by polymerase chain reaction–based analysis, and has the poten- tial to replace testing for Hb H inclusion bodies as it appears to be more sensitive, more specific, and less labor intensive.