Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Sickle-cell disease laboratory tests
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The most important laboratory test for sickle cell anemia is a complete blood count (CBC), specifically hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Laboratory findings
Laboratory findings
Blood tests
Laboratory findings consistent with the diagnosis of sickle cell disease include:[1][2]
- Anemia
- High reticulocyte count (greater than 1.5%)
- Target cells and Howell-Jolly bodies on pripheral blood smear
- Abnormal hemoglobin forms on hemoglobin electrophoresis (Sickle-cell hemoglobin (HgbS) and hemoglobin C with sickling (HgbSC) are the two most common forms)
References
References
- ↑ West MS, Wethers D, Smith J, Steinberg M (August 1992). “Laboratory profile of sickle cell disease: a cross-sectional analysis. The Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease”. J Clin Epidemiol. 45 (8): 893–909. PMID 1624972.
- ↑ Bernard AW, Venkat A, Lyons MS (April 2006). “Best evidence topic report. Full blood count and reticulocyte count in painful sickle crisis”. Emerg Med J. 23 (4): 302–3. doi:10.1136/emj.2006.035154. PMC 2579511. PMID 16549581.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aarti Narayan, M.B.B.S [2], Shyam Patel [3]