Screening for sickle cell trait: the Veterans Administration National Sickle Cell Program.
Results of the Veterans Administration Sickle Cell Program for a period of 10 years are presented. We screened 370,250 patients; 404,341 attended educational sessions, and 38,347 had individual counseling sessions. Sickle cell trait was present in 6.4% of patients, and HbC trait was present in 1.8%. The clinically significant disorders HbSC disease, sickle cell anemia, and sickle beta thalassemia were present in 0.41% of individuals screened. A large number of uncommon variants were detected. The program enhanced the awareness of and the approach to evaluation of hemoglobinopathies.
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003625:Data Collection; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006444:Hemoglobin C / Q000032:analysis; D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs
D006451:Hemoglobin, Sickle; D006444:Hemoglobin C