Potential Application of a New Screening Test for α-Thalassemia-1 Carriers

A murine hybridoma cell line secreting monoclonal anti-human embryonic zeta-globin chain antibody has been established. Using this monoclonal antibody, a slot blot immunobinding assay for the detection of zeta-globin chains in adult hemolysates has been developed. This simple test can identify individuals who are alpha-thalassemia-1 carriers due to the (-SEA/) deletion. It is proposed that this test should be made generally available in Southeast Asia and Southern China, in order to identify couples who are at risk of begetting fetuses afflicted with homozygous alpha-thalassemia.