Antenatal Haemoglobinopathy screening

Test information: The overall aim of the National Antenatal Screening Programme is to offer sickle cell and thalassemia screening to all eligible women and couples in a timely manner in pregnancy.

Specimen Type(s)

• Blood;

Other Acceptable Specimen Type(s)

N/A

Specimen Container - Adult

• N/A;

Specimen Container - Paediatric

• N/A;

Analytes

Part of a test profile?

Haemoglobinopathy Screening

Volume (min) of sample to be sent to laboratory

4ml

Patient Preparation, Sample Handling and Transport

Women undergoing antenatal booking are assessed for a potential Haemoglobinopathy including thalassaemia using the family origin questionnaire (FOQ) and the mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) from the FBC. Initial Haemoglobinopathy screening - Please send FOQ (white top copy only) with a FBC sample to Haematology (do not sent in same bag as Group and Save). Please enter EDD on the FOQ and do not make any entry in the declined box unless patient specifically declines screening.

Maximum add on time

N/A

Units and Reference Ranges / Interpretation

If the FOQ is positive for either the woman or the baby's biological father (which is any ethnic descent other than pure North European Caucasian) - identified by ticks in the Gold boxes, the laboratory will send the woman's sample to the referral laboratory for confirmation. The baby's biological father's sample is not required at this stage.

UKAS number

8869

UKAS accredited test?

Yes

Comments

N/A

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