Pocono News Section

Rare blood disorder screening

Rare blood disorder screening - Monday, August 3, 2009 at 5:19PM EST

Monday, Aug 3, 2009 @ 05:19pm EST

A new screening could help catch a blood disorder linked to our region.

The screening started Monday in parts of Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.

That's where many have developed the rare disorder.

Polycythemia Vera is the name of the disorder.

It's considered a cancer.

People living in neighborhoods with clusters of that disorder are lining up for free testing.

Losing her father to Polycythemia Vera or "PV" is reason enough for a Hazleton woman to get her blood screened.

She didn’t want to be identified, but told Eyewitness News, "He died when he was 51 and it was a horrible death. I was there at the end, it is really bad. My father lived in Hauto, near Tamaqua and that's where I think he got it from."

This woman was screened at Hazleton General hospital.

The new screening for a genetic marker called j-a-k-2 could catch Polycythemia Vera in the early stages.

Ellen Kuczynski of Zion Grove says getting her blood tested is, “Just wise.”

"I'm glad they're doing it for free and it's important to know what's wrong with your blood," said Kuczynski.

Polycythemia vera causes bone marrow to make too many red blood cells.

It can make the blood thicker than normal and can eventually lead to clotting.

Large clusters of the disorder have been found near Tamaqua and Hazleton .

Families of loved ones affected by the disorder hope to find the cause soon.

The Hazleton native we spoke with said, "We just hope they find out what causes it because I'm very curious after so long."

If you want to get tested, you can give a blood sample at the Schuylkill Mall, St. Jerome 's Church in Tamaqua, or Hazleton General hospital.

The testing will be held through Wednesday from 9am to 5pm .

Then again from august 10th through the 13th.