Feasibility of a Community-Based Sickle Cell Trait Testing and Counseling Program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Genetics
• Community Health

Background:

• Newborn screening for sickle cell trait (SCT) is mandated in the US.
• Adults often lack awareness of their SCT status, impacting reproductive decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a community-based intervention for SCT education and testing.
• To assess the effectiveness of this approach in increasing SCT status awareness.

Main Methods:

• Recruitment from eight community sites for an educational program.
• Offered hemoglobin analysis for SCT testing.
• Individual genetic counseling sessions to discuss results.

Main Results:

• 637 participants completed the educational program.
• 570 (89.5%) provided blood samples; 61 (10.9%) had SCT or other hemoglobinopathies.
• 321 (56.3%) participants received individual genetic counseling.

Conclusions:

• Community-based SCT testing interventions are feasible.
• This approach shows potential for increasing awareness of sickle cell trait status among adults.