Sickle Cell Anemia Screening and Prevention in Northern Israel

Since 1987, a screening for β Thalassemia in pregnant women is carried on in northern Israel, and from 1999 all the samples were tested also for Hgb S, Hgb C, Hgb D, Hgb O Arab and others.

In this study, the investigators intend to summarize the results of this preventive program aiming to detect couples at risk for having offspring with Thalassemia or SCA, the compliance regard to genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis and the incidence of new affected babies born.