Use of red cell indices in identifying beta thalassemia trait in undergraduate medical students-a pilot study.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of beta thalassemia trait (BTT) among undergraduate medical students using red cell indices in a pilot study. Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Rashid Latif Khan University (RLKU) Medical College. Period: Over one year, February 2024 to February 2025. Methods: A total of 100 undergraduate medical students were included. Complete blood count (CBC) was performed for all participants. Anaemia was defined according to World Health Organization criteria (hemoglobin <13 g/dL in males and <12 g/dL in females). Anaemic students were further evaluated using red cell indices (MCV, MCH, RDW, RBC count). Mentzer Index (MCV/RBC) was calculated, and values <13 with elevated RBC count were considered suggestive of BTT. Suspected cases underwent hemoglobin electrophoresis using capillary electrophoresis for confirmation. Results: The mean age was 20 ± 2 years, with 40% males and 60% females. Anaemia was present in 23% students. Four students (17.4% of anaemic group) had a Mentzer Index <13 with raised RBC count. Hemoglobin electrophoresis confirmed BTT in 2 cases, giving a prevalence of 2%. The positive predictive value of Mentzer Index was 50%. The estimated prevalence was 2% (95% CI: 0.24%–7.0%). Conclusion: In this pilot study, red cell indices appear to be a cost-effective screening tool for identifying suspected BTT cases. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.