Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre

A Thalassemia Screening and Counselling Centre were recently inaugurated at Indian Red Cross Society’s National Headquarters (IRCS NHQ) Blood Bank.
Thalassemia is a chronic blood disorder due to which a patient cannot make enough haemoglobin found in Red Blood Cells (RBC’s).
This leads to Anaemia and patients also require blood transfusions every two to three weeks to survive.
These Thalassemia syndromes are caused by inheritance of abnormal (beta) Thalassemia genes from both parents and abnormal beta-Thalassemia gene from one parent and abnormal variant haemoglobin gene from the other parent.
The new initiative of IRCS will provide adequate therapy and prevent the birth of children affected with hemoglobinopathies.
- Haemoglobinopathies: It is a genetic defect that results in abnormal structure of one of the globin chains of the haemoglobin molecule.
- Defects in these genes can produce abnormal haemoglobin and Anaemia.
It will be done through carrier screening, genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis.