Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is the most common inherited disorder among Caucasians with an estimated frequency as high as 8 per 1000. Affected individuals absorb excessive amounts of dietary iron and develop progressive accumulation of tissue iron stores with consequent organ dysfunction including hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, arthropathy and impotence. Early diagnosis and institution of phlebotomy treatments will prevent disease manifestations and normalize life expectancy. In 1996, HFE, the gene for HHC was mapped on the short arm of chromosome 6 (6p21.3). HH is therefore a natural target for the development of a routine screening strategy.