Sickle-cell anemia: A genetic disorder (most commonly seen in populations of African descent) that causes abnormally shaped red blood cells.
Sickle-cell anemia: Anemia caused by abnormal red blood cells shaped like a sickle or a cylinder.
Sickle-cell trait: Presence of the trait for sickle-cell anemia. Not sickle-cell disease itself.
Sickle-cell anemia is caused when a chemical change in hemoglobin causes the substance to form long rods in the red blood cell as the hemoglobin releases oxygen. These rigid rods change the shape of the red blood cell into a sickle shape. Sickle cell.
In blacks, sickle-cell anemia is usually the culprit. In Asians and Mediterraneans, the cause is thalassemia, which encompasses a number of different forms of anemia.
African-Americans, who may risk passing on sickle-cell anemia to their children.
Couples of Southeast Asian or Mediterranean origin, who are at increased risk of having children with thalassemia, a severe form of anemia.
genetic tests - to detect inherited diseases (i.e., sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease)
screening tests - to detect infectious diseases (i.e., sexually transmitted diseases) ...
blood screening tests - to detect diseases (i.e., rubella, also called German measles)
genetic tests - to detect inherited diseases (i.e., sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease)
screening tests - to detect infectious diseases (i.e.
for certain persons, including those with cardiac failure, recent myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke, angina (chest pain) at rest, heart rate or rhythm disorders, uncontrolled arterial hypertension, severe anemia, sickle-cell anemia, ...
Genetic disorders such as Tay-Sachs disease, sickle-cell anemia, and thalassemia meet these criteria, and screening tests are commonly done to identify carriers of these diseases.
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS): In CVS, a needle placed through your abdomen or through your vagina withdraws a tiny portion of the placenta. The sample can then be tested for Down syndrome, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis.
 See also: Anemia, Pregnancy, Genetic, Trimester, Miscarriage
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