Sickle cell trait

Sickle cell trait is a genetic condition that happens when a person inherits a sickle cell gene from just one parent. It's not the same as sickle cell disease, in which a person inherits two sickle cell genes, one from each parent.

People with sickle cell disease have just one kind of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S). This turns their normal, round red blood cells into abnormally curved (sickle) shapes. These curved blood cells aren't able to carry oxygen like normal red blood cells do. And they are rigid and don't flow easily through blood vessels.

People with sickle cell trait have both normal hemoglobin (hemoglobin A) and hemoglobin S, so they rarely have symptoms of sickle cell disease. But they are carriers and can pass the sickle cell gene to their children.

A simple blood test can show whether you have sickle cell trait. During pregnancy, a woman can have a test to find out if the baby will have the condition. In the United States, most states test for sickle cell status at birth. Some colleges screen athletes for sickle cell trait.