1. Haemoglobinopathy Prevention Unit, Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
2. First Depatment of Paediatrics, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
3. Thalassaemia National Centre of Greece, Laikon General Hospital of Athens, Athens, Greece;
4. First Department of Microbiology, Medical School, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece;
5. First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aristotelion University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece