New Resources in Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit!

Did you know that 1.5% of babies born in the United States have Sickle Cell Trait (SCT). That’s almost 1 in every 50 babies! While people with SCT often lead normal lives with few health problems, it is important for people with SCT to be aware of their trait status and the risk of passing it on to their children. The Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit provides valuable information for people with SCT.

What is sickle cell trait?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition that is present at birth. It is inherited when a child receives two sickle cell genes—one from each parent. People who inherit a sickle cell gene from one parent and a normal gene from their other parent have sickle cell trait (SCT). People with SCT usually do not have any of the signs of sickle cell disease and typically live a life without any problems from their sickle cell gene. However, they can pass the trait on to their children. Additionally, there are a few, uncommon health problems [763 KB] that may potentially be related to sickle cell trait.

What is the sickle cell trait toolkit?

CDC, together with the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) , created the Sickle Cell Trait Toolkit, an online collection of educational materials related to SCT. We hope that the tools and resources provided are both helpful and informative, and they empower you or those you know with SCT to learn more and take action.

Who is the toolkit for?

The SCT toolkit has information for everybody. Resources included in the toolkit are specifically intended for:

• People that may be carriers of SCT but are unaware of their trait status.
• People who already know they have SCT.
• Healthcare providers who can educate their patients about SCT.

In addition, the toolkit provides helpful information and resources for athletes who may be affected by SCT, as well as their trainers, team doctors, and coaches.

What resources are available now through the toolkit?

We are excited to share six new downloadable fact sheets related to sickle cell trait and sports, diabetes testing, and blood and organ donation:

• Team Doctors (Trainers): Don’t Let Your Athletes Get Sidelined By Sickle Cell Trait! [667 KB]
• Coaches: Don’t Let Your Athletes Get Sidelined By Sickle Cell Trait! [355 KB]
• Athletes: Don’t Get Sidelined By Sickle Cell Trait! [300 KB]
• Sickle Cell Trait and Diabetes Tests: What Every Healthcare Provider Should Know [385 KB]
• What You Should Know About Diabetes Testing if You Have Sickle Cell Trait [418 KB]
• Sickle Cell Trait and Blood, Organ and Tissue Donation: Yes You Can! [392 KB]

The following resources are also available:

• Get Screened for Sickle Cell Trait: Know Your Status (Infographic) [2.84 MB]
• Get Screened to Know Your Sickle Cell Status (Fact Sheet0 [996 KB]
• What You Should Know About Sickle Cell Trait (Fact Sheet) [763 KB]

Will additional tools or resources be added in the future?

Yes! More materials are currently under construction and will soon be added to the toolkit. Some of the topics to be addressed include:

• Post-Hyphema Glaucoma
• Hematuria
• Splenic Infarct

We encourage you to check back often!

What can I do to help?

Spread the word! We encourage you to share these resources with your family and friends. Feel free to post the links on your social media accounts as well.We are tweeting at https://twitter.com/CDC_NCBDDD and invite you to comment, re-post, re-tweet, and follow @CDC_NCBDDD!