The cross sectional study was performed to find out the incidence of âThalassemia in pregnant women of Latur ; Maharashtra from October 2011 to September 2013. The study was conducted at MIMSR, Medical College, Latur. In this study we screened 1186 pregnant women from Obstetrics & Gynaecology OPD of MIMSR, Latur. Whole blood Samples were collected in EDTA bulb for onsite Naked Eye Single Tube Red cell Osmotic Fragility Test (NESTROFT). The screening of β thalassemia trait was done on NESTROFT with 0.36% freshly prepared saline, and β thalassemia trait status of all NESTROFT positive subjects was confirmed by quantization of Hb A2 level, by HPLC machine in special investigation laboratory of GMC & JJ Hospital Mumbai. Out of 1186 women the NESTROFT was positive for 229 subjects, and Hb A2 level was more than 3.5% in 36 subjects, which is a diagnostic of â thalassemia trait. With a 3.03% rate of â thalassemia trait, urges necessity in studying beta thalassemia carrier status in the child bearing group, as a primary step to prevent the birth of beta thalassemia major.

Keywords: βThalassemia Trait; NESRTROFT; HB A2.