Abstract

The objective of the research was to evaluate of the efficacy of new HbE screening test (E-Sure, Mitr Medical, Thailand) compared to the modified 2,6 dichlorophenol indophenols precipitation test (KKU-DCIP) and results were confirmed by capillary electrophoresis. Blood samples were collected from patients who came for physical examinations at Kutchap Hospital and hospitals with inter-laboratory cooperation from October 2013 to February 2014. The samples were screened for those with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) lower than normal (MCV < 80 fl), resulting in 326 samples.  After screening and confirming for HbE carriers, 226 cases of HbE carriers were found, including 234 HbE trait and 32 homozygous HbE carriers. When the efficacy of KKU-DCIP screening method was compared to that of the HbE screening test (E-Sure) in community hospitals, it was found that the KKU-DCIP test had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive and efficiency values of 95.1, 91.6, 98.1, 80.9 and 94.5%, respectively. Whereas, HbE screening test, which had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive and efficiency values of 99.2, 96.7, 99.2, 96.7 and 98.8%, respectively. The HbE screening test is higher efficacy, as well as being more convenient and easier to interpret, which is suitable for HbE carrier screening in community hospital laboratories.

Key word: Thalassemia, hemoglobin E, screening method, hemoglobin E carrier.