Percentage of HbS among cases of sickle-cell trait in Basra, Iraq.

The proportion of sickle haemoglobin (HbS) was determined in 170 sickle-cell-trait individuals; 75 (44.1%) individuals had HbS% > 38%, 54 (31.8%) had HbS% between 31% and 38% and 41 (24.1%) had HbS% < 31%. There was positive correlation between HbS% and haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and target cell percentage. Multiple regression analysis indicated that measurement of haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and target cell percentage could be used to predict the HbS%.