Thalassemia minor:

• Haemoglobin : Haemoglobin level is usually normal or mildly reduced.
• Peripheral blood film : Hypochromia  and  Microcytosis (similar to Iron Deficiency Anemia).
• MCV< 75 fl,   RDW < 14%.
• Haemoglobin electrophoresis
• HPLC
• DNA analysis

Thalassemia major :

• Blood film :
• RBC : profound microcytic with extreme   hypochromia, tear drop, target   cells and nucleated RBCs.
• Hemoglobin may be very low at 3-4 g/dl.
• Haemoglobin Electrophoresis