This is a real-world medical entrance exam question, please give the true answer based on the question and selection. Topic name: Blood, Subject name: Pediatrics
[{'content': 'Best diagnostic test in Thalassemia is \nSelect and explain. \nA. HbF, B. HbA2, C. Serum iron levels, D. Reticulocyte count', 'role': 'user'}, {'content': 'Answer: A \nExplanation: (HbF) (310-11- Ghai 6th) (2035- Nelson 18th) (308-Ghai 7lh)Laboratory Investigations in Thalassemia* The infant is bom only with HbF or some cases HbF and HbE (heterozygosity for J3deg thalassemia)* Hb | (2-6 gm/dL), HbF T and HbA2 is nrmal* Reculocyte count is commonly <8% and is in appropriately low compared with the degree of anemia because of ineffective erythropoiesis* Unconjugated serum bilirubin level is usually elevated but the chemistry values may be normal at an early stages* Peripheral smears shows - hypochromia, anisocytosis and poikilocytosis, (Target and tear drop cell, Howell Jolly bodies & Heinz bodies) with marked basophilic stippling* Bone marrow - hypercellular with erythroid hyperplasia with erythroid hyperplasia with increased number of stippled erythroblasts and side roblasts* Osmotic fragility decreased* Serum iron, serum ferritin levels increased', 'role': 'assistant'}]