All pregnant women will be offered screening for thalassaemia based on a formal process of inspection of routine blood indices. Scotland follows the low prevalence screening model for haemoglobinopathies utilised in England and offers women in high risk groups, or women whose partners are in high risk groups, screening for sickle cell disorders and other haemoglobin variants using a recommended Family Origin (Ancestry) Questionnaire (FOQ) to assess risk status
The FOQ will be used to improve the screening process by collecting more accurate information of family origins which is highly valuable to laboratories in interpreting results from screening. Where laboratories are able to combine a blood sample with knowledge of the family ancestry of both parents, they are able to make more accurate recommendations about whether the baby’s father should also be invited for screening.
The protocols document contains standard national protocols for all healthcare professionals involved in the NHS Scotland Antenatel Haemoglonopathies screening programme. In order to ensure equity of service across Scotland, NHS Boards are required to ensure that the screening service provided locally adheres to these protocols.
2015 Antenatal Haemoglobinopathy Protocols version 1
Further information is available from the NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme in England, please note that Scotland follows the English Low Prevelance screening model as set out in the Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Handbook for Newborn Laboratories. There are differences between the English and Scottish Programmes.
NHS_SCT_Handbook_for_Newborn_Laboratories
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