Frequently asked question: Can sickle cell disease be identified through a blood test?

Yes, it can. There are two kinds of tests that can be used to determine the presence of HbS.. The first can be done at any age and involves the use of a chemical compound (called sodium bisulfite) that is added to the blood sample that has been drawn by a venepuncture. If there is HbS in the blood, sickle cells will form after thirty minutes, which can be seen under a microscope. This test does not say anything about the volume of HbS in the blood. In other words, the test will be positive when you have sickle cell disease, but also when you are a carrier.
The second test can be done only on children of over 6 months old. Before six months, the HbS volume will be too low, and the test requires HbS levels of at least 20% to produce a conclusive test result. Like the first test, this test says nothing about the volume of HbS in the blood, meaning that it will be positive for both SCD patients and sickle cell carriers.

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Frequently asked question: Can sickle cell disease be identified through a blood test?

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