Introduction: The inherited disorders of blood include hemoglobinopathies as one of the major public health problems in India. They cause a high degree of morbidity, moderate to severe hemolytic anemia among vulnerable segments of the society like infants and children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, etc. and several deaths in India. The cumulative gene frequency of the three most predominant abnormal hemoglobins, i.e. sickle hemoglobin, hemoglobin D and hemoglobin E has been found to be 5.35% in India. Prevalence of sickle gene is found to be 0–18% in North eastern India, 0–33.5% in Western India, 22.5–44.4% in Central India and 1–40% in Southern India. The sickling disorders– HbSS, HbSD, HbSE, HbS/ β– thalassemia and other compound heterozygous hemoglobinopathies are all clinically significant, as these combinations present with different manifestations and degrees of severity, making precise identification important. Automated cation–exchange High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has emerged as an excellent screening tool for diagnosing these abnormal hemoglobins/ thalassemic states.

·         Aims and Objective: To determine the prevalence of different types of thalassemias and its distribution in tribal population attending the Pathology Department of RIMS Ranchi.

·        To correlate clinical and hematological features of thalassemias.

Material and Methods: The present study entitled “Prevalence of Thalassemia in Tribal patients using High Performance Liquid Chromatography” was carried out in the Department of  Pathology, Rajendra institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, for a period of one year (Jan2013–Dec2016). The study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences.

Conclusion: Out of 100 patients diagnosed with thalassemia using HPLC, 28 cases belonged to the Tribal population . In the present study the prevalence of β thalassemia trait in Tribals in Jharkhand was found to be 11%. β Thalassemia major in Tribals in Jharkhand was found to be 7%. Sickle β Thalassemia in Tribals in Jharkhand was found to be 10%. No cases of HbEβ Thalassemia in Tribals were found in Jharkhand during this period. The definite identification of disorders of hemoglobin synthesis can be achieved only by DNA analysis, but, in the Indian scenario, family studies on HPLC might be useful as there is paucity of funds, and facilities for DNA analysis are not readily available. Family study is an equally efficacious and cost effective tool. This highlights the role of premarital counseling.