CAF Celebrates Second Annual #Test4Trait Week
November 15, 2017 – We are proud to recognize this third week of November as our Second Annual #Test4Trait week, when we encourage our families and friends to get trait tested for thalassemia. Join us by sharing our #Test4Trait posts on social media this week! Together, we can educate our communities about thalassemia and the importance of trait testing.
What is the thalassemia trait?
Thalassemia trait is not a disease or condition, but a kind of genetic possibility that you may pass on to your children. If you have been diagnosed with thalassemia trait, this is another way of saying that you carry the genetic trait for thalassemia. A genetic trait is a code contained in your body’s DNA. For example, you may carry the genetic trait for blue eyes, even if you have brown eyes. This means that if your partner also has the genetic trait for blue eyes, you could have a child with blue eyes. However, when two thalassemia trait carriers have a child there is a one-in-four chance with each pregnancy that the child will have a severe type of thalassemia.
Who can carry thalassemia trait?
Anyone can carry thalassemia trait. Thalassemia is most common among people of certain regions, including the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China, Africa and the Caribbean.
However, due to migration and intermarriage of different ethnic populations, the trait for thalassemia is found in people with no obvious ethnic connection to the disorder. This is why we are encouraging everyone to #Test4Trait. Remember, when two thalassemia trait carriers have a child there is a one-in-four chance with each pregnancy that the child will have a serious blood disorder.
How can I check to see if I am a thalassemia trait carrier?
Getting tested for thalassemia trait is easy. Just ask your doctor to check your MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) reading when you get your routine blood tests. If your MCV reading is 80 or less and you are not iron deficient, you may have thalassemia trait, and your doctor should perform additional tests to confirm and determine what kind.
Is thalassemia trait the same thing as iron deficiency anemia?
Thalassemia trait is not the same condition as iron deficiency anemia. Physicians often mistake thalassemia trait for iron deficiency anemia and prescribe iron supplements that have no effect on the anemia. Patients with thalassemia trait have smaller red blood cells and may have a mild anemia, although many trait carriers do not experience symptoms.
If a doctor prescribes iron for your anemia, ask if your iron levels are low. If they are not, ask your doctor to check your MCV reading when you get your routine blood tests. If your MCV reading indicates that you may have thalassemia trait (e.g., if your MCV is 80 or lower and you are not iron deficient), your doctor should perform additional tests to confirm and determine what kind.
I am a trait carrier and am planning to have a child. What can I do?
If you are a thalassemia trait carrier and are considering having a child or are already pregnant, your partner should be tested to see if they also carry the trait.
If you are both trait carriers, inform your obstetrician about your thalassemia trait. Discuss what it might mean for your unborn child. There are two kinds of prenatal tests you can request if you want to determine whether your unborn child has any form of thalassemia.
All of this is possible once you #Test4Trait. If you have any questions about thalassemia trait, please contact the Cooley’s Anemia Foundation by emailing info@thalassemia.org.
Click here to download a booklet about thalassemia trait.
To download brochures in various languages about alpha thalassemia trait, click here.
To download brochures in various languages about beta thalassemia trait, click here.