Thalassemias are the most frequent genetic diseases world-wide, and the main entities are alpha- and beta-thalassemia. Both entities can also be co-inherited, but co-inheritance of both traits have similar alterations in hematological parameters like hemoglobin, MCH and MCV.

While beta-thalassemia is often detected by hemoglobin separation methods like hplc or electrophoresis that are more easily accessible, detection of alpha-thalassemia requires genetic testing.

Should all patients with beta-thalassemia trait detected by hemoglobin separation always undergo genetic testing for alpha-thalassemia as it could be missed without genetic testing?