Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in Iraq.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was tested in the blood of 305 males and 394 females, with Beutler's fluorescent spot test being used for screening. The percentage of deficiency was estimated at 12.4% for males and 8.8% for females of all ages; it was, however, highest among children and lowest among those over 50 years. The efficiency of the fluorescent screening test in detecting heterozygote females was estimated at 35% and was derived by determining gene frequencies and comparing the expected and the observed.