Analysis of the remaining case identified a novel δ-Hb variant, namely Hb A2-Mae Phrik [δ52(D3)GAT > GGT; Asp > Gly], found in association with Hb E and α+-thalassemia, indicative of the as yet undescribed combination of triple heterozygosity of globin gene defects. Here, GSTM1 is linked to thalassemia.