Diagnosis for Thalassemia

The symptoms of thalassemia are visible right from a very young stage. If your child is afflicted, a blood test may reveal the following:

A reduced red blood cell count
An inconsistency in size and shape of red blood cells
Uneven hemoglobin content in the red blood cells, making the cells appear as a bull's eye shape under the microscope.

Higher content of iron in the body may indicate Thalassemia.

The doctors may also perform a DNA Analysis to diagnose the affliction and its exact cause and repercussions.

Some of the pre-natal tests, that is, the tests that may be performed before the baby is born, are:

Chorionic Villus Sampling – This test involves removing and testing a piece of placenta in the 11th week of pregnancy.
Amniocentesis – The technique involves the sampling of fluid that surrounds the placenta and is performed in the 16th week of pregnancy.
Fetal Blood Sampling - This test involves taking a sample of fetal blood or the blood vessel in the umbilical cord and is usually performed after 18 weeks of gestation period.