One blood test. That's all it takes to know your sickle cell status — and the answer can change how you raise your kids, plan a pregnancy, train for a sport, or prepare for surgery.
What "sickle cell status" actually means. Your status tells you what kind of hemoglobin your red blood cells make. Most people make 100% normal hemoglobin (status: HbAA). Others carry a single sickle gene (sickle cell trait, HbAS) or a different hemoglobin variant (HbAC, HbA-β-thal). And some people have sickle cell disease itself — HbSS, HbSC, or HbS-β-thalassemia — which is a different, more serious condition.
You will not "feel" sickle cell trait in everyday life. The only way to know is to test.
Who should get screened?
- Every newborn in the United States is already screened for sickle cell as part of the newborn screening program. If you're a parent, ask your pediatrician for your child's results — they're in the chart.
- Adults of childbearing age, especially before starting a family. If your partner also has a hemoglobin variant, your child could inherit sickle cell disease.
- Anyone whose status was never confirmed. That includes adoptees, internationally born adults, and many people whose newborn screen is hard to track down.
The right test (and the wrong one). Ask your provider for:
- A Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) — flags anemia and certain hemoglobinopathies.
- Hemoglobin electrophoresis, HPLC, or DNA testing — these tell you exactly which hemoglobin types you make.
Avoid the sickle cell solubility test (sometimes called Sickledex). It can mislead — it doesn't distinguish trait from disease and shouldn't be used to determine status.
Where do I go? Your primary care provider, your local health clinic, or a community sickle cell organization. The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) maintains a national directory: 1-800-421-8543.
Then what? Once you know your status, sit down with your provider — and, if there's a chance of trait or disease, a genetic counselor — to talk through what it means for you and the next generation.
You don't have to wonder. You can know.
— Dr. Rob
📄 Resource: CDC Get Screened to Know Your Sickle Cell Status.