Sickle Cell Test

Hemoglobin S Test

Results

A sickle cell test is a blood test done to screen for sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell test

Normal:	Normal hemoglobin is present.
Abnormal:	Abnormal hemoglobin is present. In sickle cell trait, about half of the hemoglobin is normal (hemoglobin A) and about half is abnormal (hemoglobin S). In sickle cell anemia, almost all hemoglobin is hemoglobin S with some hemoglobin called hemoglobin F.

In babies, a sickle cell blood test may be repeated at 6 months old, or a genetic information (DNA) test may be done.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: March 12, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine Martin Steinberg, MD - Hematology
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