Punnet Square
Genetic Pedigree
The chart describes how the sickle cell is passed through the generations. Some may get the trait and some may not. Both female and male can get it.
Are There Tests That Can Tell Me Whether I Have Sickle Cell Trait?
yes, Routine "blood counts" commonly performed in doctors' offices do
not give hints about the presence of sickle cell trait. Most people with sickle
cell trait have normal routine blood counts. Only a special test, called a
"hemoglobin electrophoresis" indicates reliably whether a person has sickle
trait. In addition, the hemoglobin electrophoresis will detect hemoglobin C and
b-thalassemia in adults. An outmoded test for sickle
cell disease is the "sickledex" assay. Here, a drop of blood is placed into a
solution that becomes cloudy if the person has sickle cell disease or sickle
cell trait. Importantly, the test detects neither hemoglobin C nor thalassemia
trait. As noted above, if one parent has one of these conditions and the other
has sickle cell trait, a child can have a severe sickle condition. The
"sickledex test" can be very misleading when trying to counsel prospective
parents about the risk of their child having a severe sickle cell condition.
For this reason, the test is no longer used.