Identification/Diagnosis

Early diagnosis of sickle cell disease is extremely critical so children can receive proper treatment. Sickle cell is usually suggested when the abnormal sickle shaped cells in the blood are found under a microscope. Testing is usually done on a smear of blood using a low-oxygen preparation (sickle prep) Hemoglobin electrophoresis is the most commonly used diagnosis test. Hemoglobin electrophoresis tests, specifically, identifies the hemoglobin in the blood by using electrical charges they have on their protein surfaces to separate them. With these tests, if the results show that the sickle hemoglobin is present, then a second test is performed to confirm the diagnosis. These blood tests tell if the patient carries the trait or not.