How Is Sickle Cell Anemia Diagnosed?
Early diagnosis of sickle cell anemia is very important. Children who have the disease need prompt and proper treatment. In the United States, all States mandate testing for sickle cell anemia as part of their newborn screening program. The test uses blood from the same blood samples used for other routine newborn screening tests. It can show whether a newborn infant has sickle cell anemia or sickle cell trait. Test results are sent to your baby’s primary care doctor. This is the doctor who you name on the papers you fill out at the hospital before giving birth. It’s important to provide correct contact information to the hospital. This allows your baby’s doctor to get the test results as quickly as possible. If the test shows some sickle hemoglobin, a second blood test is done to confirm the diagnosis. The second test should be done as soon as possible and within the first month of life. If your baby needs a second test, the primary care doctor may send you to a hematologist. This is
