Abstract: Background: Anemia of pregnancy primarily affects women of low socioeconomic status. Globally, by WHO (World Health Organization) criteria, 52% of pregnant women from undeveloped or developing countries are anemic compared with 20% from industrialized nations. Heterozygous β-thalassemia (β-thalassemia trait; β-TT), caused by the inheritance of a single β-thalassemia allele, either β0 or β+, is an important cause of anemia. More importantly, however, its diagnosis is important for the prevention of beta thalassemia major.