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Sickle Cell Test

(continued)

What Affects the Test

Having a blood transfusion in the past 4 months can cause a false-negative test result because of the normal hemoglobin from the blood donor.

What To Think About

Most states routinely do a sickle cell blood test on all newborns.
If you have a family history of sickle cell disease, you may be advised to have a blood test to determine whether you carry the sickle cell trait. If you have sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease, you may choose genetic counseling before deciding to have children.
Testing is available to check for sickle cell disease in an unborn baby (fetus). This can be done through amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). For more information, see the topics Amniocentesis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS).
Babies under 6 months of age may have false-negative results because they have more hemoglobin F (fetal hemoglobin) in their blood.
In the United States, sickle cell disease mainly affects African Americans and Latin Americans.

Other Places To Get Help

Organization

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD)
1600 Clifton Road, MS E-87
Atlanta, GA��30333
Phone:	1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
TDD:	1-888-232-6348
Email:	cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Web Address:	www.cdc.gov/ncbddd
�
NCBDDD aims to find the cause of and prevent birth defects and developmental disabilities. This agency works to help people of all ages with disabilities live to the fullest. The website has information on many topics, including genetics, autism, ADHD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, diabetes and pregnancy, blood disorders, and hearing loss.

Citations
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (2007). Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Newborns. Available online: http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspshemo.htm.
Other Works Consulted
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosby?s Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Martin Steinberg, MD - Hematology
Last Revised	October 7, 2010

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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: October 07, 2010

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.