Description　
Alpha-thalassemia is characterized by an impaired production of the alpha globin chains of hemoglobin, leading to a relative excess of gamma globin chains (fetus and newborn), or excess beta globin chains (children and adults) mainly due to deletion or mutation of the alpha globin genes. There are four alpha thalassemia syndromes, reflecting the loss of function of one, two, three, or all four of these alpha chain genes varying in severity from non-symptomatic to incompatibility with extrauterine life (Benz Jr & Angelucci, 2023; Martin & Thompson, 2013). 

Beta-thalassemia is similarly characterized by impaired production of hemoglobin components but affects the beta chains instead of the alpha chains. This creates excess alpha globin chains, leading to hemolytic anemia, impaired iron handling, and other clinical symptoms (Benz Jr, 2023c).
When pursuing genetic testing for alpha- or beta-thalassemia, genetic counseling is strongly recommended.  

For guidance on prenatal screening and preconception screening for alpha- or beta-thalassemia, please see CAM 358-Prenatal Screening (Genetic). 

Background 
Hemoglobin, which is the major oxygen carrying protein molecule of red blood cells, consists of 2 α-globin chains and 2 β-globin chains. Alpha-thalassemia refers to a group of syndromes that arise from deficient production of α-globin chains. Deficient α-globin production leads to an excess of β-globin chains, which results in anemia by a number of mechanisms¹: 

• Ineffective erythropoiesis in the bone marrow

• Production of nonfunctional hemoglobin molecules

• Shortened survival of RBCs [red blood cells] due to intravascular hemolysis and increased uptake of the abnormal RBCs by the liver and spleen

The physiologic basis of α-thalassemia is a genetic defect in the genes coding for α-globin production. Each individual carries 4 genes that code for α-globin (2 copies each of HBA1 and HBA2, located on chromosome 16), with the wild genotype (normal) being aa/aa. Genetic mutations may occur in any or all of these 4 α-globin genes. The number of genetic mutations determines the phenotype and severity of the α-thalassemia syndromes. The different syndromes are classified as follows:

• Silent carrier (α-thalassemia minima). This arises from 1 of 4 abnormal alpha genes (aa/a-), and is a silent carrier state. A small amount of abnormal hemoglobin can be detected in the peripheral blood, and there may be mild hypochromia and microcytosis present, but there is no anemia or other clinical manifestations.
• Thalassemia trait (α-thalassemia minor). This is also called α-thalassemia trait and arises from the loss of 2 α-globin genes, resulting on 1 of 2 genotypes (aa/--, or a-/a-). There is a mild anemia present, and red blood cells are hypochromic and microcytic. Clinical symptoms are usually absent and in most cases, the Hg electrophoresis is normal.
• Hemoglobin H disease (α-thalassemia intermedia). This syndrome results from 3 abnormal α-globin genes (a-/--), resulting in a moderate to severe anemia. In HgH disease, there is an imbalance in α- and β-globin gene chain synthesis, resulting in the precipitation of excess β chains into the characteristic hemoglobin H, or β-tetramer. This condition has marked phenotypic variability, but most individuals have mild disease and live a normal life without medical intervention.² 

A minority of individuals may develop clinical symptoms of chronic hemolytic anemia. These include neonatal jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, hyperbilirubinemia, leg ulcers, and premature development of biliary tract disease. Splenomegaly can lead to the need for splenectomy, and transfusion support may be required by the third to fourth decade of life. It has been estimated that approximately 25% of patients with HgH disease will require transfusion support during their lifetime.³ In addition, increased iron deposition can lead to premature damage to the liver and heart. Inappropriate iron therapy and oxidant drugs should be avoided in patients with HgH disease.

There is an association between genotype and phenotype among patients with HgH disease. Individuals with a nondeletion mutation typically have an earlier presentation, more severe anemia, jaundice, and bone changes, and more frequently require transfusions.⁴

• Hemoglobin Bart syndrome (α-thalassemia major). This syndrome results from mutations in all 4 α-globin genes (--/--), resulting in absent production of α-globin chains. This condition causes hydrops fetalis, which often leads to intrauterine death, or death shortly after birth. There are also increased complications of pregnancy for a woman carrying a fetus with hydrops fetalis. These include hypertension, preeclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage, renal failure, premature labor, and abruption placenta.³ 

Alpha-thalassemia is a common genetic disorder, affecting approximately 5% of the world’s population.³ The frequency of mutations is highly dependent on ethnicity, with the highest rates seen in Asians, and much lower rates in Northern Europeans. The carrier rate is estimated to be 1 in 20 in Southeast Asians, 1 in 30 for Africans, and between 1 in 30 and 1 in 50 for individuals of Mediterranean ancestry. In contrast, for individuals of northern European ancestry, the carrier rate is less than 1 in 1,000.

Genetic Testing
A number of different types of genetic abnormalities are associated with α-thalassemia. More than 100 different genetic mutations have been described. Deletion of 1 or more of the α-globin chains is the most common genetic defect. This is the type of genetic defect found in approximately 90% of cases.⁵ Large genetic rearrangements can also occur from defects in crossover and/or recombination of genetic material during reproduction. Point mutations in 1 or more of the α genes can occur that impair transcription and/or translation of the α-globin chains.

Testing is commercially available through several genetic labs. Targeted mutation analysis for known α-globin gene mutations can be performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).^4,5 PCR can also be used to identify large deletions or duplications. Newer testing methods have been developed to facilitate identification of α-thalassemia mutations, such as multiplex amplification methods and real-time PCR analysis.^6-8 In patients with suspected α-thalassemia and a negative PCR test for genetic deletions, direct sequence analysis of the α-globin locus is generally performed to detect point mutations.⁵

Regulatory Status
Genetic testing for alpha thalassemia is available as a laboratory-developed service, subject only to the general laboratory operational regulation under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988. Laboratories performing clinical tests must be certified for high-complexity testing under CLIA. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not regulated these tests to date.

Policy

Application of coverage criteria is dependent upon an individual’s benefit coverage at the time of the request. 

1. Genetic testing to confirm an alpha- or beta-thalassemia diagnosis is considered MEDICALLY NECESSARY in any of the following situations:
   1. For individuals for whom one parent is a known carrier of alpha- or beta-thalassemia
   2. For individuals for whom other testing to diagnose the cause of microcytic anemia has been inconclusive

The following does not meet coverage criteria due to a lack of available published scientific literature confirming that the test(s) is/are required and beneficial for the diagnosis and treatment of an individual’s illness.

2. For all other situations not described above, genetic testing for alpha- or beta-thalassemia is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

Table of Terminology

Rationale 

Thalassemias result from deficiencies in hemoglobin biosynthesis due to mutations in or near the two globin gene clusters which encode the globin polypeptide subunits of hemoglobin (Benz Jr & Angelucci, 2023). Normal hemoglobin is a heterotetramer of two alpha globin chains and two beta globin chains (hemoglobin A) or two gamma globin chains (hemoglobin F). Well over 100 mutations have been documented to affect the biosynthesis or post-translational stability of the globin subunits needed for successful production of the large amounts of Hb needed for normal red cell homeostasis. Globin chain synthesis is very tightly controlled, such that the ratio of production of alpha to non-alpha chains is almost exactly 1:1 (Benz Jr, 2023b). 

Alpha thalassemia refers to thalassemias that result from impaired or absent production of alpha globin, leading to a relative excess of gamma globin (fetus and newborn), or excess beta globin (children and adults). Excess beta globin chains can form soluble homotetramers, but they are nonfunctional and unstable. This may lead to increased hemolysis and a variety of clinical manifestations, such as anemia, thrombosis, and skeletal changes. A diagnosis of alpha thalassemia is often confirmed by genetic testing, as assessment of the hemoglobin gene is inexpensive and convenient (Benz Jr, 2023b). 

The clinical severity is directly attributable to the net deficit of alpha globin synthesis but is complicated by the number of alpha globin genes affected, which of the two alpha globin loci is affected, and the degree to which the mutation blocks gene expression. In addition, combinations of defects in both alpha and beta globulins can balance each other out. Thus, understanding the broad spectrum of clinical severity in alpha thalassemia requires a detailed knowledge of the underlying genetic defect and the impact of these defects on the overall levels and balance of globin chain synthesis (Benz Jr, 2023c).

The majority of cases of alpha thalassemia are attributable to deletion of alpha globin alleles, especially in Asia and Africa (Steinberg, 1999). However, more detailed analysis of globin gene sequences suggests that some fairly common forms of alpha thalassemia that appear to arise from a deletion of one copy of an alpha globin gene are actually due to unequal crossover and recombination events that fuse the two alpha globin genes together into one (Benz Jr, 2023b). Additionally, non-deletion alleles are also common, especially in the Mediterranean area, which contain mutations producing highly unstable alpha globin variants unable to produce intact hemoglobin (Benz Jr & Angelucci, 2023). Current research continues to identify novel mutations and improve thalassemia screening (He et al., 2018).

Beta-thalassemia is similar to alpha-thalassemia, with the beta chains of hemoglobin affected instead of the alpha chains. However, excess alpha globin chains do not form soluble homotetramers, causing them to aggregate when they accumulate in erythroid precursors. This causes clinical symptoms to be more severe, although the symptoms themselves are similar to alpha-thalassemia (anemia, iron overload, and so on) (Benz Jr, 2023c; Benz Jr & Angelucci, 2023). There are two beta globin genes compared to four for the alpha chain. As with alpha-thalassemia, the severity of clinical presentation depends on the genotype of the beta globin genes (i.e. the ratio of beta to alpha globin chains). Mutations may result in a reduced expression (β+) or absent expression (β0). β0 phenotypes are generally transfusion-dependent as they produce very little (if any) adult hemoglobin (Benz Jr, 2023c).

Due to the frequency of thalassemias worldwide, carrier screening may be useful, particularly in areas such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent. Both primary thalassemias are autosomal recessive genetic disorders so parents who are heterozygous carriers would have a 25% chance to have an affected child despite being asymptomatic themselves. Identification of an affected fetus could alter decisions during the pregnancy (Yates, 2023).

Below is a table summarizing the clinical genotypes and phenotypes of both thalassemia syndromes (Benz Jr, 2023a; Benz Jr & Angelucci, 2023; Steinberg, 2023) (figure from Benz Jr).

Analytical Validity
He et al. (2017) examined a next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel’s utility for thalassemia screening in Southwestern China. 951 individuals were tested, and the NGS screen found 471 carriers (49.5%) of thalassemia. In comparison, traditional methods (defined as “red cell indexes and hemoglobin electrophoresis, then DNA sequencing”) identified only 209 carriers (22%) of thalassemia, missing 217 alpha-thalassemia carriers and 47 beta-thalassemia carriers (He et al., 2017). In a separate study by Zhang et al. (2019), because of studying 3,973 subjects that underwent hematological examinations and additional NGS and Gap-PCR due to being suspected thalassemia carriers, the researchers found that “approximately 2.88% thalassemia carriers would be missed by traditional genetic analysis. In addition, four novel thalassemia mutations and one novel abnormal hemoglobin mutation were identified.” This research further corroborated the increased effectiveness of using NGS in screening thalassemia in an area of high disease prevalence (Zhang et al., 2019).

Shook et al. (2020) evaluated the accuracy of a specific pattern in hemoglobin separation tests. The authors desired to find if an “FSA” pattern corresponded to a final diagnosis of the sickle cell trait (HbAS), or a final diagnosis of sickle beta-thalassemia (HbSβ+). Traditionally, the FSA pattern has indicated a diagnosis of HbSβ+; however, the authors hypothesized that the FSA pattern truly indicates a diagnosis of HbAS instead. 31 newborns with an initial screening result of the FSA pattern (a suspected diagnosis of HbSβ+) were included. 30 of these newborns underwent protein-base confirmatory testing and 17 underwent confirmatory genetic testing. Of the newborns undergoing protein confirmatory testing, 23 had an “FSA” pattern, establishing a diagnosis of HbAS. Of the 8 remaining newborns with an FSA pattern, 7 underwent genetic testing which identified HbAS as well. Genetic testing also confirmed positive HbAS results in 10 newborns that tested initially positive by protein testing. The authors concluded that genetic testing had utility in newborn screening for hemoglobinopathies (Shook et al., 2020).

Chen et al. (2021) established an effective NGS protocol for four-factor preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to diagnose α- and β-thalassemia. Three couples, in whom both partners were α- and β-double thalassemia carriers, underwent PGT and a total of 35 biopsied trophectoderm samples underwent multiple displacement amplification (MDA). Using NGS-based single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) haplotyping, these samples were analyzed. “51.5% (17/33) of the embryos were diagnosed as unaffected non-carriers or carriers. Of the 17 unaffected embryos, nine (52.9%) were tested further and identified as euploid via NGS-based aneuploid screening, in which five had HLA types matching affected children.” The authors conclude that NGS-SNP was effective in performing PGT for multipurpose detection (Chen et al., 2021). 

Clinical Utility and Validity
Nosheen et al. (2015) evaluated a preliminary screening program for beta-thalassemia. The screening program focused on families of beta-thalassemia major children. 98 samples were taken, and 57 were found to have a beta-thalassemia trait with elevated hemoglobin alpha 2. The mean hemoglobin alpha 2 level of the carriers was 5.2 ± 0.56% compared to 2.34 ± 0.57% in normal subjects. The authors suggested that screening programs and counseling for carriers could decrease incidence of beta-thalassemia major (Nosheen et al., 2015).

Satirapod et al. (2019) evaluated the clinical outcomes of using preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) in couples at risk of passing on beta thalassemia. Two components of PGT were used, PGT for monogenic disease (used for diagnosis) and PGT for aneuploidy (intended to identify chromosomal aberrations) A total of 15 couples were included and a total of 106 embryos were tested. After preimplantation testing, 12 of 15 women were able to obtain satisfactory genetic testing results (defined as non-disease affected embryos without chromosomal aberration and transfer within first two cycles). Of these, 9 women had successful implantations and 8 women had successful pregnancies with live births (deemed a 53.33% success rate). PGT assessment of genetic status was confirmed by pre- and post-natal genetic testing. Overall, the authors concluded that combined PGT-A and PGT-M was a useful technology to prevent beta-thalassemia in the offspring of recessive carriers. To increase the diagnostic efficiency of PGT-M, multiple displacement amplification (MDA) may be utilized as the first step. This conclusion was drawn by Fu et al. (2019), who found in a retrospective cohort study, that from 2,315 embryos tested, MDA yielded a 96.99% diagnostic efficiency, versus a PCR group, which only yielded 88.15%. MDA also enabled statistically significantly more embryos to be available for transfer as well when compared to the PCR group (74.28% vs 64.28%, respectively, P < 0.001) (Fu et al., 2019).

Chen et al. (2020) also conducted a similar study that evaluated “the efficacy of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for α- and β-double thalassemia combined with aneuploidy screening using next-generation sequencing (NGS).” From 12 couples that each carried both α- and β- thalassemia mutations, the researchers were able to facilitate 11 healthy live births from examining 112 embryos. This NGS-based SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) haplotyping was demonstrated to “reduce misdiagnosis by linkage analyses with multiple SNP loci” and increase the number of diagnosis results, including those from detecting aneuploidy and identified mutation sites, in a single PGT cycle. It was also found that NGS-based SNP haplotyping could be performed “through directly detecting mutation sites with NGS and using affected embryos or gametes as probands.” This procedure benefits in eliminating multiple biopsies as well (Chen et al., 2020).

American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG)
In 2021, ACMG released an updated guideline for screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions during pregnancy and preconception. Their practice resource aims to recommend “a consistent and equitable approach for offering carrier screening to all individuals during pregnancy and preconception” and replaces any earlier ACMG position statements on prenatal/preconception expanded carrier screening and provide the following recommendations:

• “Carrier screening enables those screened to consider their reproductive risks, reproductive options, and to make informed decisions.”
• “The phrase “expanded carrier screening” be replaced by “carrier screening.”
• “Adopting a more precise tiered system based on carrier frequency:
  • Tier 4: < 1/200 carrier frequency (includes Tier 3) genes/condition will vary by lab
  • Tier 3: ≥ 1/200 carrier frequency (includes Tier 2) includes X-linked conditions
  • Tier 2: ≥ 1/100 carrier frequency (includes Tier 1)
  • Tier 1: CF [Cystic Fibrosis] + SMA [spinal muscular atrophy] + Risk Based Screening
    • “Tier 1 screening conveys the recommendations previously adopted by ACMG and ACOG” and “adopts an ethnic and population neutral approach when screening for cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy. Beyond these two conditions, additional carrier screening is determined after risk assessment, which incorporates personal medical and family history as well as laboratory and imaging information where appropriate”
    • “Tier 2 carrier screening stems from an ACOG recommendation for conditions that have a severe or moderate phenotype and a carrier frequency of at least 1/100.” However, “data demonstrate that carrier screening for two common conditions using a carrier frequency threshold of 1/100 may not be equitable across diverse populations. Others have shown that limiting the carrier frequency to ≥ 1/100 creates missed opportunities to identify couples at risk for serious conditions.”
    • “We define Tier 3 screening as carrier screening for conditions with a carrier frequency ≥ 1/200 . . . Tier 2 and Tier 3 screening prioritize carrier frequency as a way to think about conditions most appropriate for screening in the general population. However, when ACOG proposed this level, they did not specify whether it was thinking about carrier frequency in terms of the global population or subpopulations. We use “carrier frequency” to mean in any ethnic group with reasonable representation in the United States.”
    • “Tier 4 includes genes less common than those in Tier 3 and can identify additional at-risk couples. Tier 4 has no lower limit carrier screening frequency and can greatly extend the number of conditions screened . . . the clinical validity at this level of carrier screening may be less compelling, therefore we suggest reserving this level of screening for consanguineous pregnancies (second cousins or closer) and in couples where family or medical history suggests Tier 4 screening might be beneficial . . . Importantly, patients should understand that their chance of being a carrier for one or more conditions increases as the number of conditions screened is increased.”
• “All pregnant patients and those planning a pregnancy should be offered Tier 3 carrier screening.
• Tier 4 screening should be considered:
  • When a pregnancy stems from a known or possible consanguineous relationship (second cousins or closer).
  • When a family or personal medical history warrants.
• ACMG does NOT recommend:
  • Offering Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 screening, because these do not provide equitable evaluation of all racial/ethnic groups.
  •  Routine offering of Tier 4 panels.
• “Carrier screening paradigms should be ethnic and population neutral and more inclusive of diverse populations to promote equity and inclusion.”
• “All pregnant patients and those planning a pregnancy should be offered Tier 3 carrier screening for autosomal recessive [Table 1 & 5] . . . conditions.”
• “Reproductive partners of pregnant patients and those planning a pregnancy may be offered Tier 3 carrier screening for autosomal recessive conditions [Table 1 & 5] when carrier screening is performed simultaneously with their partner.”
• “When Tier 1 or Tier 2 carrier screening was performed in a prior pregnancy, Tier 3 screening should be offered” (Gregg et al., 2021).

Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (CCMG) and Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) 
The CCMG and SOGC published a joint guideline titled “Carrier Screening for Thalassemia and Hemoglobinopathies in Canada” in 2008. Their recommendations addressing thalassemia’s/hemoglobinopathies are listed below:

1. “Carrier screening for thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies should be offered to a woman if she and/or her partner are identified as belonging to an ethnic population whose members are at higher risk of being carriers. Ideally, this screening should be done pre-conceptionally or as early as possible in the pregnancy. (II-2A)
2. Screening should consist of a complete blood count, as well as hemoglobin electrophoresis or hemoglobin high performance liquid chromatography. This investigation should include quantitation of HbA2 and HbF. In addition, if there is microcytosis (mean cellular volume < 80 fL) and/or hypochromia (mean cellular hemoglobin < 27 pg) in the presence of a normal hemoglobin electrophoresis or high-performance liquid chromatography the patient should be investigated with a brilliant cresyl blue stained blood smear to identify H bodies. A serum ferritin (to exclude iron deficiency anemia) should be performed simultaneously. (III-A)
3. If a woman’s initial screening is abnormal (e.g., showing microcytosis or hypochromia with or without an elevated HbA2, or a variant Hb on electrophoresis or high-performance liquid chromatography) then screening of the partner should be performed. This would include a complete blood count as well as hemoglobin electrophoresis or HPLC, HbA2 and HbF quantitation, and H body staining. (III-A)
4. If both partners are found to be carriers of thalassemia or an Hb variant, or of a combination of thalassemia and a hemoglobin variant, they should be referred for genetic counselling. Ideally, this should be prior to conception, or as early as possible in the pregnancy. Additional molecular studies may be required to clarify the carrier status of the parents and thus the risk to the fetus. (II-3A)
5. Prenatal diagnosis should be offered to the pregnant woman/couple at risk for having a fetus affected with a clinically significant thalassemia or hemoglobinopathy. Prenatal diagnosis should be performed with the patient’s informed consent. If prenatal diagnosis is declined, testing of the child should be done to allow early diagnosis and referral to a pediatric hematology centre, if indicated. (II-3A)
6. Prenatal diagnosis by DNA analysis can be performed using cells obtained by chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis. Alternatively, for those who decline invasive testing and are at risk of hemoglobin Bart’s hydrops fetalis (four-gene deletion α-thalassemia), serial detailed fetal ultrasound for assessment of the fetal cardiothoracic ratio (normal < 0.5) should be done in a centre that has experience conducting these assessments for early identification of an affected fetus. If an abnormality is detected, a referral to a tertiary care centre is recommended for further assessment and counselling. Confirmatory studies by DNA analysis of amniocytes should be done if a termination of pregnancy is being considered. (II-3A)
7. The finding of hydrops fetalis on ultrasound in the second or third trimester in women with an ethnic background that has an increased risk of α-thalassemia should prompt immediate investigation of the pregnant patient and her partner to determine their carrier status for α-thalassemia. (III-A)” (Langlois et al., 2008).

The Thalassemia Longitudinal Cohort 
The report on the Thalassemia Longitudinal Cohort recommends: “Obtaining genotyping to confirm the diagnosis and HLA typing for transplant evaluation for all patients who require chronic transfusion is strongly recommended. For pediatric patients, annual comprehensive follow up should include assessment of the availability of a related donor as well as a recommendation to bank cord blood and obtain HLA typing on all subsequently born full siblings” (Tubman et al., 2015).

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) 
The ACOG Committee Opinion #691 (“Carrier Screening for Genetic Conditions”) states that: “Couples at risk of having a child with a hemoglobinopathy may benefit from genetic counseling to review their risk, the natural history of these disorders, prospects for treatment and cure, availability of prenatal genetic testing, and reproductive options. Prenatal diagnostic testing for the mutation responsible for sickle cell disease is widely available. Testing for α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia is possible if the mutations and deletions have been previously identified in both parents. These DNA-based tests can be performed using chorionic villi obtained by chorionic villus sampling or using cultured amniotic fluid cells obtained by amniocentesis. For some couples, preimplantation genetic diagnosis in combination with in vitro fertilization may be a desirable alternative to avoid termination of an affected pregnancy. Preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been successfully performed for sickle cell disease and most types of β-thalassemia” (ACOG, 2017). This was reaffirmed in 2020.

In 2018, ACOG reaffirmed its practice bulletin regarding hemoglobinopathies in pregnancy (originally published in 2007) (ACOG, 2018). The following recommendations are considered “Level A” and based on “good and consistent scientific evidence.”

• “Individuals of African, Southeast Asian, and Mediterranean descent are at increased risk for being carriers of hemoglobinopathies and should be offered carrier screening and, if both parents are determined to be carriers, genetic counseling.”
• “A complete blood count and hemoglobin electrophoresis are appropriate laboratory tests for screening for hemoglobinopathies. Solubility tests alone are inadequate for screening because they fail to identify important transmissible hemoglobin gene abnormalities affecting fetal outcome.”
• “Couples at risk for having a child with sickle cell anemia or thalassemia should be offered genetic counseling to review prenatal testing and reproduction options. Prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopathies is best accomplished by DNA analysis of cultured amniocytes or chorionic villi.”

ACOG also writes that “if the MCV [mean corpuscular volume] is below normal, iron deficiency anemia has been excluded, and the hemoglobin electrophoresis is not consistent with β-thalassemia trait (i.e., there is no elevation of Hb A2 or Hb F), then DNA-based testing should be used to detect α-globin gene deletions characteristic of α-thalassemia.” ACOG remarks that neither hemoglobin electrophoresis nor solubility testing can identify individuals with the α-thalassemia trait, only molecular genetic testing can (ACOG, 2007).

National Health Service (NHS)
The NHS released standards for antenatal laboratories working with the NHS sickle cell and thalassaemia (SCT) screening program (NHS, 2021). The referral guidelines for antenatal screening specimens are as follows: 

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) 
APHL states that “Molecular testing can be added to resolve cases when the newborn has been transfused with packed red blood cells. Since the newborn’s phenotype is masked by the donor, DNA testing can be used to identify any abnormal hemoglobins” (APHL, 2015).

Public Health England (PHE) 
The PHE highlights the importance of antenatal screening. If the baby’s mother is identified as a carrier, the biological father should also be tested. Both prenatal diagnosis and genetic counselling are recommended by the PHE (PHE, 2022).

British Society for Haematology (BSH) 
The BSH provides the following recommendations:

• “Antenatal screening/testing of pregnant women should be carried out according to the guidelines of the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening programme.
• Laboratories performing antenatal screening should utilize methods capable of detecting significant variants and be capable of quantitating haemoglobins A₂ and F at the cut‐off points required by the national antenatal screening program” (Ryan et al., 2010).

Genetic counseling is also permitted for prospective parents.

The Thalassemia International Foundation (TIF)
The TIF provided recommendations for the management of transfusion dependent Thalassemia. The following recommendations were made (TIF, 2021): 

• “Molecular genetic testing is available in clinical laboratories and may be useful for predicting the clinical phenotype in some cases as well as enabling presymptomatic diagnosis of at-risk family members and prenatal diagnosis.
• Molecular analysis is not required to confirm the diagnosis of a β carrier, but it is necessary to confirm the α thalassemia carrier status (grade A)
• Since the prevalent pathogenic variants of the β globin gene are limited in each at-risk population, a PCR method designed to detect the common specific mutation simultaneously should be used initially (grade B)
• β globin gene sequence analysis may be considered first if the affected individual is not of an ancestry at high risk or if targeted analysis reveals only one or no pathogenic variant (grade B)
• α thalassemias are mainly due to deletions of different length and they can be detected preferentially by reverse dot blot and Gap-PCR (grade B)
•  Methods that may be used to detect rare or unknown deletions include: Southern blotting (now fallen into abeyance), quantitative PCR, long-range PCR and, above all, MLPA (grade B)” (TIF, 2021).

References  

1. ACOG. (2007). ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 78: hemoglobinopathies in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol, 109(1), 229-237. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006250-200701000-00055
2. ACOG. (2017). ACOG Commitee Opinion 691: Carrier Screening for Genetic Conditions. Obstet Gynecol, 129, e41-e55. https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000001952
3. ACOG. (2018). ACOG Publications. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 131(1). https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Fulltext/2018/01000/ACOG_Publications.31.aspx
4. APHL. (2015). Hemoglobinopathies: Current Practices for Screening, Confirmation and Follow-up. Association of Public Health Laboratories Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/documents/nbs_hemoglobinopathy-testing_122015.pdf
5. Benz Jr, E. J. (2023a). Classical thalassemia syndromes (genotypes and laboratory findings). In UpToDate. Waltham. MA.
6. Benz Jr, E. J. (2023b, March 27). Molecular pathology of the thalassemic syndromes. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/molecular-genetics-of-the-thalassemia-syndromes
7. Benz Jr, E. J. (2023c). Pathophysiology of thalassemia. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pathophysiology-of-thalassemia
8. Benz Jr, E. J., & Angelucci, E. (2023, January 17). Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of the thalassemias. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-the-thalassemias
9. Chen, D., Shen, X., Wu, C., Xu, Y., Ding, C., Zhang, G., Xu, Y., & Zhou, C. (2020). Eleven healthy live births: a result of simultaneous preimplantation genetic testing of α- and β-double thalassemia and aneuploidy screening. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics, 37(3), 549-557. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01732-7
10. Chen, D., Shen, X., Xu, Y., Ding, C., Ye, Q., Zhong, Y., Xu, Y., & Zhou, C. (2021). Successful four-factor preimplantation genetic testing: α- and β-thalassemia, human leukocyte antigen typing, and aneuploidy screening. Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine, 67(2), 151-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/19396368.2020.1832158
11. Fu, Y., Shen, X., Chen, D., Wang, Z., & Zhou, C. (2019). Multiple displacement amplification as the first step can increase the diagnostic efficiency of preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disease for β-thalassemia. J Obstet Gynaecol Res, 45(8), 1515-1521. https://doi.org/10.1111/jog.14003
12. Gregg, A. R., Aarabi, M., Klugman, S., Leach, N. T., Bashford, M. T., Goldwaser, T., Chen, E., Sparks, T. N., Reddi, H. V., Rajkovic, A., & Dungan, J. S. (2021). Screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked conditions during pregnancy and preconception: a practice resource of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). Genet Med, 23(10), 1793-1806. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41436-021-01203-z
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Coding Section  

Procedure and diagnosis codes on Medical Policy documents are included only as a general reference tool for each policy. They may not be all-inclusive.

This medical policy was developed through consideration of peer-reviewed medical literature generally recognized by the relevant medical community, U.S. FDA approval status, nationally accepted standards of medical practice and accepted standards of medical practice in this community, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association technology assessment program (TEC) and other non-affiliated technology evaluation centers, reference to federal regulations, other plan medical policies, and accredited national guidelines.

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