All of the following can distinguish b-thalassemia minor from major except:

a. Clinical findings
b. Hemoglobin concentration
c. Presence of microcytosis, hypochromasia, and target cells
d. Presence of Hb A

ANS: C
Microcytes, hypochromasia, and target cells are found in both b-thalassemia major and minor, so these findings do not distinguish one from the other. All the other findings listed vary significantly between the two types of b-thalassemia.