Max thalassemia Profile

What is Max Thalassemia?

Max Thalassemia is the most severe form of Thalassemia where a person’s body is unable to produce the required haemoglobin and red blood cells. It’s an inherited genetic disorder. Thalassemia is mainly characterized by too few blood cells and too less haemoglobin. There are two kinds of Thalassemia i.e. the Alpha Thalassemia and the Beta-Thalassemia. The major or the severe forms of both the Alpha and the Beta Thalassemia are referred to as the Max Thalassemia.
 

What are the symptoms of Thalassemia?

There are various symptoms related to Thalassemia. Some of the most common symptoms of thalassemia are, as listed below:

– Pale skin resulting from Jaundice 
– A persisting weakness and drowsiness
– Tingling pain in the chest
– Cold hands and feet resulting from lack of haemoglobin
– Shortness of breath
– Cramps in the leg muscles
– irregular heartbeat; mostly a very rapid heartbeat
– A sudden shift in appetite
– Stunted growth or delayed development
– Headaches and dizziness
– Fainting too often or seizures.
– More prone to catching infections
– Enlarged spleen
– Developing gall stones 

What is Max Thalassemia Profile?

Max Thalassemia Profile is a series of tests which are used for diagnosing a person having Thalassemia. The tests help in monitoring the severity of Thalassemia. These tests even provide for diagnosing the type of Thalassemia an individual is suffering from. There are 49 tests under the max Thalassemia Profile. The tests are grouped categorically. The groups are as follows:

– Complete Hemogram
– Hepatitis Panel
– Infectious Disease Profile
– Iron Deficiency tests
– Vitamin tests 
– Thyroid Profile
– Kidney profile 
– Liver profile 

Why did my doctor recommend me to undergo the Max Thalassemia Profile tests?

Your doctor might recommend you the Max Thalassemia Profile for the following reasons:

– If you have lesser blood count and haemoglobin count, the doctor might ask you to undergo the Max Thalassemia profile tests to confirm if you are suffering from Thalassemia.

– In case you are experiencing the symptoms which are associated with Thalassemia, your health provider can suggest you the Max Thalassemia Profile.

– If you have an enlarged spleen, it is one of the conditions for which the doctor might suggest the Max Thalassemia Profile.

– Malfunctioning of other organs like kidney, liver, heart or lungs associated with the symptoms which are already mentioned, are also diagnosed using the Max Thalassemia Profile. 

– If you are already undergoing the treatment for Thalassemia, your doctor might ask you for undergoing the Max Thalassemia Profile for monitoring if your body is responding to the treatment for Thalassemia.

– If you are already diagnosed with Thalassemia, your doctor might suggest you the Max Thalassemia Profile to diagnose the type of the Thalassemia and to measure the severity of it.

What are the tests which come under the Max Thalassemia Profile tests?

There are 49 tests which come under the Max Thalassemia Profile. The tests are grouped under several categories as named formerly. The names of the tests under each category are as follows:

What are the preparations required for the max Thalassemia Profile?

10 to 12 hours of fasting is mandatory. No old medications are required to be stopped. Consult your doctor and inform him about all the medications that you had been taking. He’ll suggest you whether you need to stop any medications or not. New medications are not recommended.

How is the Max thalassemia profile test done?

Blood Test

For the blood test for the Max Thalassemia Profile, a sample of blood is collected. The blood collection is done via the procedure called venipuncture. Venipuncture is carried out in the following ways:
– A tight elastic band or a tourniquet is wrapped around the upper arm of an individual to make the veins more prominent. 

– As the veins become more prominent it becomes easier even to locate the vein from which the blood sample has to be collected.

– A syringe is injected and the blood is collected into the tube of the syringe.

– The tourniquet or the elastic band is unwrapped after the collection of the blood.

– The area around the puncture is cleaned using an antiseptic. This helps in preventing any further infections.

-A cotton swab is dabbed on the spot of the puncture of the injection. Sometimes a bandage is put on the spot of the puncture. This is done to prevent any bleeding after the sample collection.

– The sample of the blood is sent to the laboratory for the Max Thalassemia profile tests.

Urine Test

For the urine test to be conducted, a sample of urine is collected. The procedure of the urine sample collection is elaborated below.

– You will be given a container by the diagnostic entre or the laboratory for the collection of the urine sample. You will be provided with the guidelines for the storage of the urine sample as well.

-Flush out all the urine after excretion right in the morning. Empty your bladder completely before starting the urine collection procedure.

– Collect all the urine passed for the next 24 hours in the container provided by the laboratory or the diagnostic centre.

– The sample of the urine collection should be stored in a cool place or a refrigerator.

– After 24 hours of the duration of the collection of the urine sample, the sample is sent to the laboratory for the  Max Thalassemia profile tests.

CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) test

The Cerebrospinal Fluid sample is collected for carrying out the test. The collection of the CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) is elaborated below:

– You will be instructed by your health practitioner to lie down on your side. Your legs should be folded from the knees and pressed against your chest and your chin should be bent downwards.

– If a small amount of sample is required, your doctor might suggest you to sit bending forward.

– An antiseptic is used to clean the area where the puncture will be made using a syringe for the collection of the CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) sample.

– A numbing cream is applied to the lower back of an individual. A general or a local anaesthetic can also be administered to an individual. This helps in numbing the area where the puncture has to be made.

– After the area is numbed, a syringe is injected between the two bones of the spinal cord. The CSF(cerebrospinal Fluid) is drawn and collected into the tube of the syringe.

– The CSF(cerebrospinal Fluid) is then sent to the laboratory or the diagnostic centre for the Max Thalassemia Profile.

What are the risks associated with the Max Thalassemia profile test?

The procedure of the blood collection i.e. the venipuncture might have a few risks associated with it. The most common risks are  as follows:

– A condition called haematoma is really common risks which are associated with the venipuncture procedure. In haematoma, blood clots under the skin and forms lumps.

– Bleeding and bruising is the most common risk.

– Some individuals might feel dizzy and lightheaded after the collection of the blood sample. If your health practitioner had to make too many punctures for finding the correct vein for the collection of the blood sample, you might experience a pain associated with that for too many punctures.


There are a few risks associated with the CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) collection. Some of the most common risks are as follows:

– Some individuals might feel discomfort or mild pain during the procedure of the CSF(cerebrospinal Fluid) collection.

– If there is a CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) leakage during the sample collection, an individual might feel dizzy and there can be a persisting headache.

– There are chances of infection due to unsterilized needle of the syringe.

– A nerve can get damaged while the CSF(Cerebrospinal Fluid) is collected.

– The spinal cord can bleed especially in a person having a low count of platelets(thrombocytopenia)

What is the price of the Max Thalassemia Profile in India?

The Max Thalassemia Profile tests price in India starts from 1695 INR. The prices might vary across the country. The prices are dependent on the location i.e. the city or the state the diagnostic centre or the laboratory is located in.

When will I get my results for the Max Thalassemia Profile tests?

You will get your results for the Max Thalassemia Profile tests within 24 hours to 36 hours of the tests.

How will I understand my results for the Max thalassemia Profile tests?

The clinical references for the components of the tests are elaborated in the chart given below:

What do abnormal levels of the components tested in the  Max Thalassemia test indicate?

The abnormal levels of the Max Thalassemia Profile tests indicate that a person is suffering from Thalassemia. There are many other tests which can be recommended by your doctor after the Max Thalassemia Profile. These further tests are to confirm the tests done in the Max Thalassemia profile since some of the tests under the Max Thalassemia Profile might might false-positive or false-negative results.

Is the Max Thalassemia Profile recommended during pregnancy?

When should I take my kid for the Max Thalassemia Profile?