Dr Abdul Mannan: The Mentzer Index Remains a Cornerstone Screening Tool in Haematology
Dr Abdul Mannan, Consultant Haematologist at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, posted on LinkedIn:
“The Mentzer Index: A Valuable yet Imperfect Tool
The Mentzer Index remains a cornerstone screening tool in haematology.
It offers immediate differentiation between iron deficiency anaemia and β-thalassaemia trait using routine FBC parameters—no additional cost, no delay.
Its elegance lies in its simplicity: MCV divided by red cell count. However, limitations are critical: grey zone cases (MI 11–15), dual pathology, and α-thalassaemia confound interpretation.
The index guides, not diagnoses—confirmatory ferritin and HbA₂ quantification remain mandatory. In resource-limited settings, it prioritises costly testing.
In high-resource settings, it prevents diagnostic delay. Never use in isolation; always integrate clinical context, ethnicity, and family history.
The Mentzer Index exemplifies evidence-based medicine: a simple calculation with profound clinical impact when used judiciously.”
Title: Mentzer Index — Evidence-Based Review
Authors: Dr Abdul Mannan FRCPath FCPS
Read full article here.
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