Simple Blood Test Can Help Prevent Genetic Disorders, Health Officials Say

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Health authorities has noted regarding a simple blood test that can help prevent the birth of children with genetic blood disorders.

Haematology Specialist Dr. Chathurma Piyarathna stated that conditions such as thalassaemia, as well as marriages between close relatives, can increase the risk of such disorders in newborns.

She noted that when both parents are thalassaemia carriers, there is a 25% chance of a child being born with major thalassaemia and a 50% chance of the child becoming a carrier.

Dr. Piyarathna further explained that early detection through a simple blood test can help identify and prevent such cases before childbirth.

She revealed that around 3% of the population in Sri Lanka are thalassaemia carriers.