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, more than half of the hemoglobin is normal (hemoglobin A) and less than half is abnormal (hemoglobin S). In sickle cell disease, 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:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: December 9, 2008
Medical Review:	Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine Martin Steinberg, MD - Hematology
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