Most beta thal majors are capable of producing small amounts of HbA. Only when both genes are beta zero would there be none (in HbE beta zero thal, there is also no HbA). When there is enough HbA produced to survive without regular transfusions it is called thal intermedia. If a DNA analysis is done it may be able to somewhat predict the outcome based on the mutations found. Some combination of mutations are more likely to lead to intermedia but this is not definite because there may be other factors that affect the total hemoglobin level, such as how much fetal hemoglobin is produced. In borderline cases, fetal hemoglobin inducing drugs are used to try to keep the Hb level high enough to avoid transfusions. There is a small chance your child can avoid transfusions and this won't be known usually until 6-12 months because fetal Hb levels remain high until 6 months, but it is a small chance. More and more, even borderline patients are being transfused so the growth is not negatively affected by low Hb levels.