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Methemoglobinemia screening

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aksiniya Stevasarova, M.D.

Overview

Overview

Methemoglobinemia screening is not routinely done in the United States.

Screening

Screening

  • Methemoglobinemia screening in the United States is not routinely done.
  • Newborn screening for G6PD is also not routinely done in the United States. It is performed only in neonates presenting with jaundice. [1]
  • Currently we have a screening test for G6PD deficiency that has been tested in Thai population, since G6PD is very common in this patient population. It is called methemoglobin reduction test (MRT), it is not expensive and it uses cord blood of neonates to check for the enzyme deficiency. Even though it has low sensitivity around 65%, it does have acceptable specificity close to 90%. [2]
Referrences

Referrences

  1. Mehta A, Mason PJ, Vulliamy TJ (2000). “Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency”. Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Haematol. 13 (1): 21–38. PMID 10916676.
  2. Sanpavat S, Nuchprayoon I, Kittikalayawong A, Ungbumnet W (2001). “The value of methemoglobin reduction test as a screening test for neonatal glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency”. J Med Assoc Thai. 84 Suppl 1: S91–8. PMID 11529386.

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