Abnormal haemoglobins and hereditary ovalocytosis in the Ulu Jempul District of Kuala Pilah, West Malaysia

A survey of abnormal haemoglobins and hereditary ovalocytosis was carried out among 629 Malays of Minangkabau descent in the Ulu Jempul District of Kuala Pilah, in the state of Negri Sembilan in West Malaysia.. Several abnormal haemoglobins were found with the following frequencies: Hb E 5.25%, Hb CoSp 2.38%, Hb A2 indonesia 0.80%, a fast moving Hb with a Mobility between A and Bart's 0.64% and Hb Q 0.16%. Hereditary ovalocytosis was found in 13.2% of these people. None of the persons with hereditary ovalocytosis had any evidence of haemolysis.