Alpha-1 is a genetic condition that can cause severe lung and liver problems. It is one of the most common inherited conditions in Ireland but unfortunately Alpha-1 is hugely under-diagnosed. For example, the typical person with Alpha-1 sees up to 5 doctors for a period of 7 years before a correct diagnosis is reached. Alpha-1 affects approximately 250,000 people on the island of Ireland, with 15,000 of these affected by severe deficiency (The Prevalence of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency in Ireland, Respiratory Research, 2011 July 13;12:91). Most people with Alpha-1 present in their 40s and 50s with early-onset emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) but this can occur later in life. A sub-group of people with severe Alpha-1 (usually ZZ or SZ) present with liver disease in the first year of life and in rare cases may require liver transplantation. Early diagnosis is vital to the health and welfare of people with Alpha-1, and this is our main objective which we encourage through family screening.