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Rapid prenatal test for alpha-thalassemia

Date:
May 12, 2010
Source:
American Journal of Pathology
Summary:
Researchers in Thailand have developed a rapid, high-throughput screening method for prevention and control of the blood disease thalassemia.
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Researchers from Mahidol University in Thailand have developed a rapid, high-throughput screening method for prevention and control of the blood disease thalassemia.

Their report appears in the May 2010 issue of The Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.

α-Thalassemia is a blood disease caused by a genetic defect in the production of a component of hemoglobin. This disease is more prevalent in areas that either were previously or are currently endemic for malaria, including the Mediterranean and South Asia. Carriers of mutations in α-thalassemia may have some degree of protection against malaria, but children of parents who both carry the mutation α-thalassemia-1 may develop Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis, which results in fetal death in utero or soon after birth.

Prenatal screening and genetic counseling are essential for prevention and control of α-thalassemia. The current diagnostic assay is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, researchers led by Dr. Saovaros Svasti of Mahidol University developed a novel, rapid, and reliable assay for the diagnosis of α-thalassemias. This assay has high sensitivity and specificity, rapid turnaround time, and a decreased risk of contamination between samples.

Munkongdee et al suggest that this technique will "allow [for] high throughput screening suitable for prevention and control of thalassemia in the Southeast Asia population."

This study was supported in part by Vejdusit Foundation.


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Materials provided by American Journal of Pathology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Munkongdee T, Vattanaviboon P, Thummarati P, Sewamart P, Winichagoon P, Fucharoen S, Svasti S. Rapid diagnosis of α-thalassemia by melting curve analysis. Journal of Molecular Diagnostics, 2010; 12: 354-358 DOI: 10.2353/jmoldx.2010.090136

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American Journal of Pathology. "Rapid prenatal test for alpha-thalassemia." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 May 2010. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100511111929.htm>.
American Journal of Pathology. (2010, May 12). Rapid prenatal test for alpha-thalassemia. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100511111929.htm
American Journal of Pathology. "Rapid prenatal test for alpha-thalassemia." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100511111929.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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