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Sickle cell disease is usually determined through newborn screening within the first few days of life on virtually every baby born in the United States. Newborn screening aids in the detection of serious or life-threatening diseases (which disease screened for differs between states) and allows for treatment to begin early before complications may arise. Family history and specific diagnostic procedures, including hemoglobin electrophoresis, a blood test to determine if the child is a carrier of a specific sickle cell trait or has any of the diseases associated with the sickle cell gene, are also used to diagnose sickle cell disease.
Early diagnosis is essential in providing proper preventative treatment for some of the devastating complications of the disease. Parents of a newly-diagnosed infant should immediately contact a pediatric sickle cell program to initiate education and development of a health maintenance plan.
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