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Lesley Van Wyk: ASCP High-Yield Review – Essential Thalassemia Concepts and Differential Diagnosis
Lesley Van Wyk/LinkedIn
Oct 11, 2026, 11:44

Lesley Van Wyk: ASCP High-Yield Review – Essential Thalassemia Concepts and Differential Diagnosis

Lesley Van Wyk, Laboratory Manager at National Health Laboratory Service, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Thalassemias – ASCP High-Yield

α-Thalassemia

Low α-globin | HBA1/HBA2 — Chr 16

  1. deletion – Silent carrier
  2. – α-thal trait
  3. – HbH disease (β₄)
  4. – Hb Bart’s / hydrops fetalis (γ₄)

β-Thalassemia

  • Low β-globin | HBB — Chr 11
  • β⁰ – absent production | β⁺ – reduced production
  • Trait: microcytosis plus normal/high RBC plus high HbA₂
  • Major: severe anemia plus transfusion dependence plus hepatosplenomegaly

Thalassemia vs IDA

  • Thalassemia – MCV Low plus RBC normal/high plus ferritin normal/high
  • IDA – MCV Low plus RBC Low plus ferritin Low
  • Mentzer Index lower than 13 – Thalassemia; higher than 13 – IDA

ASCP Keys:

high HbA₂ – β-thal trait

HbH – β₄ | Hb Bart’s – γ₄

α – Chr 16 | β – Chr 11″

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Health Hematology Hemostasis Hemostasis News Hemostasis Today Lesley Van Wyk Medicine α-thalassemia β-Thalassemia
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