The genetic defect that causes sickle cell anemia affects hemoglobin, which is a component of red blood cells. Hemoglobin’s job is to carry oxygen to all the cells and tissues of the body. Red blood cells that contain normal hemoglobin are soft and round. The soft texture enables them to squeeze through the body’s small blood vessels. People with sickle cell anemia have a type of abnormal hemoglobin called hemoglobin S. Normal hemoglobin is called hemoglobin A. A genetic error makes the hemoglobin molecules stick together in long, rigid rods after they release oxygen. When these rods cause the red blood cells to become to hard and sickle shaped, it’s like having mini-heart attacks throughout the entire body.

A heart attack is painful because the blood flow to the heart interrupts. In sickle cell anemia, the blood flow

There are many complications from the sickle cells blocking blood flow and early breaking apart; there are painful episodes, strokes, increased infections, leg ulcers, yellow eyes, or jaundice early gallstones, lung blockage, loss of body water in urine, painful erections in men, blood blockage in spleen or liver, eye damage, low red blood cell counts (anemia), and delayed growth. (8)

In the United States, sickle cell anemia is most common among African Americans. Every year, about one in four hundred African American infants are born with the disease after inheriting the genetic mutation from both parents.

All races are screened for this hemoglobin at birth. There are three common types of sickle cell diseases in the United States; ( Hemoglobin SS or sickle cell anemia, Hemoglobin SC disease, and sickle beta - thalassemia.) Each of these can cause sickle pain episodes and complications, but some are more common than others. All of theses may also have an increases in fetal hemoglobin that can protect the red cell from sickling and help prevent complications.

Both sickle cell disease and sickle trait can be detected by this test. During the test, blood from an adult is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The puncture site is cleaned with antiseptic, and a blood pressure cuff is placed around the upper arm to apply pressure and restrict blood flow through the vein. This causes veins below the tourniquet to fill with blood. A needle is inserted into veins and the blood is collected in a air-tight vial or a syringe. For an infant or young child, the area is cleansed with antiseptic and punctured with a sharp needle or a lancet. The blood may be collected in a small glass tube, on a slide, onto a test strip, or into a small container. Cotton or a bandage may be applied to the puncture site if there is any continued bleeding. When the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain, w

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