The main changes in blood counts in thalassemia are a decrease in mean red blood cell volume and a decrease in mean hemoglobin concentration. Thalassemia is a congenital anemia that is inherited due to abnormalities in the quantity and quality of hemoglobin within the red blood cells, resulting in a shortened life span of the red blood cells. Patients with thalassemia will first have an anemic state in their blood profile, and will also present with a microcytic hypochromic anemia, where microcytic means that the average red blood cell volume is lower than normal, and hypochromic means that the average hemoglobin concentration is lower than normal. The anemia quartet for thalassemia includes levels of folic acid, vitamin B₁₂, serum iron, and erythropoietin. Hemoglobin electrophoresis is also done to further clarify the diagnosis, and if necessary, thalassemia genetic screening, which is the gold standard for thalassemia diagnosis. If thalassemia occurs, it is recommended to go to the hospital in time to receive targeted treatment or therapy under the guidance of a physician.