What Is Sickle Cell Trait?
Sickle cell trait is a change in a gene that affects your blood. We all get genes from our parents. Genes are like instructions that help decide things like hair color, eye color, and how our body works.
Each parent gives you a hemoglobin gene. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen through your body.
People with sickle cell trait have:
- One normal hemoglobin gene (A)
- One changed hemoglobin gene (S)
Sickle Cell Trait Is Not a Disease
It’s different from sickle cell disease. Most people with sickle cell traits feel fine. Rarely, things like dehydration, extreme exercise, or high altitudes can cause problems
- People with sickle cell trait won’t develop sickle cell disease
- But they can pass the genes on to their children
- To get sickle cell disease, a child must inherit the sickle cell gene from both parents.
- People with the disease have red blood cells shaped like bananas or sickles.
- These cells can block blood flow and cause pain.
Who Can Have Sickle Cell Trait?
Sickle cell traits are more common in people with family from:
- Africa
- The Mediterranean (like Greece or Italy)
- The Middle East
- South Asia (like India or Pakistan)
But anyone can have it.
What if My Baby Screens Positive for trait?
1.) Talk to Your Baby’s Doctor
Ask questions and learn what the results mean.
2.) Get Follow-Up Testing
Doctors will do more tests to confirm the result. Your pediatrician will refer you to a pediatric hematologist (a blood specialist). Work with them to schedule the appointment. The hematologist will help confirm your baby’s newborn screening results.
Some pediatricians who are familiar with hemoglobin traits may order the testing themselves. This is fine, as long as you receive and understand the results. If you have questions that your pediatrician cannot answer, you can ask for a referral to a hematologist.
This visit and test should happen when your baby is between 6 months and 1 year old.
Sickle cell trait is a secondary condition on the CT NBS Panel. It can be identified through newborn bloodspot screening.
