Sickle cell disease, or sickle cell anaemia (drepanocytosis), is a life-long blood disorder characterised by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape.
Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various complications. The sickling occurs because of a mutation in the hemoglobin gene. Life expectancy is shortened, with studies reporting an average life expectancy of 42 and 48 years for males and females, respectively.
Sickle-cell disease, usually presenting in childhood, occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) from parts of tropical and sub-tropical regions where malaria is or was common.
A specially labelled blood sample collection kit containing everything needed by a nurse or doctor to take the blood sample. The kit will be unique and coded specifically to you.
A Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire is included with this test. It covers important areas such as illness, injuries, medical conditions, medication, family health history and much more.
The Medical History & Lifestyle questionnaire provides us with vital information which can affect how your results are interpreted and what advice you receive.
You will have secure online access to your medical reports and results held on our secure web servers. If required, we will also send you a hard copy by post.
Our web servers are secure and protected by the latest SSL certificate. The 128bit SSL encryption assures that information is kept private between our web servers and your web browser.