:: Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia Support Project ::

What is a Sickle Cell trait? (carrier state)

Sickle cell carriers are also known as sickle cell trait or healthy carriers of haemoglobin S (Hb AS). Normal haemoglobin (Hb AA), is where a person inherits the gene for haemoglobin A from both parents (Hb A + Hb A = Hb AA). Sickle Cell Trait (Hb AS) is when a person inherits a gene for haemoglobin S from one parent and a gene for the normal haemoglobin A from the other parent.

A carrier of sickle cell trait is a healthy person. If you are born with sickle cell trait you will always carry it. Having the trait is not an illness and this will not develop into the disorder. You cannot catch the disorder and it is not infectious.

You do not need any medical treatment because you are a carrier of sickle cell. It will not make you ill or weak.

Being a carrier of sickle cell does not prevent you from doing any job you want. Although you should avoid extreme endurance exercises (e.g. high altitude mountaineering, soldier, unpressurised aeroplane flying).

Red blood cells that carry the haemoglobin S can sometimes under extreme circumstances e.g. general anaesthetic and severe dehydration cause the normal round cell to change to resemble a sickle cell shape.