Screening for thalassaemia and variant haemoglobins (such as Sickle haemoglobin) is performed within the Haematology laboratory at Heartlands Hospital for all Trust sites and GP's. Patients may require haemoglobinopathy testing as part of ante-natal screening or pre-operative assessment.

Requests should be made on a Haematology request form and sent with a 4ml EDTA sample for analysis. We are unable to reflex haemoglobinopathy screening on suspected full blood counts results without a request. Ante-natal requests should be accompanied with a Family Origin Questionnaire.

Occasionally samples are referred to Central Middlesex Hospital, London or John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford for confirmation of new or unusual variants or for alpha thalassaemia testing.

For further information or advice please contact the laboratory on extension 40198 or check the Test Database.

Indications for Thrombophilia Screening:

• Patients with spontaneous/unprovoked venous thromboembolism before the age of 45 years
• Patients with unexplained cerebrovascular accident before the age of 45 years
• Patients with recurrent venous thrombosis before the age of 45 years
• Patients with thrombosis in an unusual site
• Patients with a history of venous thrombosis in first degree relatives before the age of 45 years
• Patients with a history of three or more miscarriages or a full term foetal loss or stillbirth
• Patients with warfarin induced skin necrosis
• Patients with neonatal purpura fulminans

These are the BCSH guidelines for thrombophilia screening. Samples from patients not fitting into the above criteria will be stored untested for one month. In this situation please contact a Consultant Haematologist for advice.

Samples for any coagulation tests must be filled to a minimum of 90% of the fill line indicated on the sample tube. Any sample filled below this level will be reported as insufficient and a repeat sample will be required.