Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are common children especially in developing countries. For screening we need a test which is sensitive and cheap, so that t can be applied to large number of children, and taking in consideration that the these samples will be withdrawn from children who are apparently healthy.
Complete Blood Count (CBC) test is the gold standard test for identifying various diseases including Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). Usually in IDA, the cellular indices show a microcytic and hypochromic—that is, both the Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and the Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) have values below the normal range which can be confirmed by examination of smear. However, with supportive tests like, Ferritin, TIBC, Transferrin saturation, and Hepcidin, IDA would be confirmed. These biochemical tests helps to differentiate various disorders (Anemia of chronic disease, Thalassemias, lead poisoning, Sideroblastic anemia etc)
On otherways, you should keep testing CBC and applying discrimination formulas to screen IDA from mixed Microcytic Hypochromic anemia cases (specially from Thalassemia traits). These discrimination formulas used since 1973, and uptill now more than 15 standard discrimination formulas reported in literature.
Please let me know if the following references/sites are useful to you:
1. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children: USPSTF
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https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Home/GetFile/1/16413/idachildrenfinal/pdfwith oral iron formulations, in children ages 6 to 24 months. ... to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for iron deficiency anemia in children ...
2. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children
https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/Home/GetFileByID/2261Sep 1, 2015 ... Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young. Children. This final recommendation statement applies to children ages 6 months to 2 years old ...
3, Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children - American ...
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1215/od1.pdfDec 15, 2015 ... www.aafp.org/afp. American Family Physician 1097A. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children: Recommendation Statement.
4. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children - American ...
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2015/1215/p1103.pdfDec 15, 2015 ... Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children. TINA FAN, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Program, ...
5. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia and Iron Supplementation in ...
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/0115/p133.pdfJan 15, 2016 ... benefits and harms of screening for iron defi- ... who do not have symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. It does .... DRIEssentialGuideNutReq.pdf.
6. Screening for Iron Deficiency Anemia in Young Children - Pediatrics
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/136/4/746.full.pdfwith oral iron formulations, in children ages 6 to 24 months. ... to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening for iron deficiency anemia in children ...
Dennis
Dennis Mazur
B- Thalassemia trait is common in Iraq where 4.4% of the population are carriers. In addition, alpha thalassemia is also common in Basra. Thus screening by hemoglobin, and MCV will not be enough. Adding other RBC indices and serum ferritin will be necessary.
