Sickle cell anemia

[wanttobepainfree]

Is anyone familiar with sickle cell anemia? I had some lab tests done and my doctor said I was not anemic. I have been anemic in the past a couple of times. But I was concerned because at the end of my lab results it had, "NOTE: ASSAY MAY BE AFFECTED BY HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES (SICKLE CELL ANEMIA, S-C DISEASE, OTHERS) OR ARTIFICIALLY LOWERED BY DECREASED RED CELL SURVIVAL (HEMOLYTIC ANEMIAS, BLOOD LOSS, ETC.) CONSIDER ALTERNATE TESTING OR LABORATORY CONSULTATION." I asked my RA nurse practioner about this and I really wasn't given an answer but to talk to my pcp about it since he was the one that had blood work ordered. It was blood work for my organs, and other stuff like cholesterol, cbc..... I haven't met with my pcp yet.

[helixhelix]

Could this be a totally standard statement that this lab uses? Was the testing ordered specifically to check anaemia as well as standard tests? The sentence seems just to be saying that if the patient has sickle disease, recent blood loss etc then the result might not be accurate and recommends alternative types of test.

It seems to indicate that these issues could cause an under-reading, ie below normal. So if your results are normal then even less likely to be a concern. After all if you had sickle cell anaemia you would know it by now.....

So I wouldn’t worry and wait until you cam discuss with doctor.

[wanttobepainfree in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for your kind response. I will discuss with my pcp at my next visit.