A diagnosis of α-thalassemia was made based on the increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity (15919.000 mU/g), decreased HbA2 (0.9%) and RBC-BT (erythrocyte fragility test; 29.0%), as well as positive hemoglobin H staining with hemoglobin electrophoretic studies (HbH, 10.7%). This evidence concerns the gene HBA2 and thalassemia.