Sickle Cell Trait: What You Need to Know

Sickle cell trait is a blood disorder that affects the red blood cells. It is not the same as sickle cell disease - in fact, it is not a disease at all. It is a "trait," which means it is inherited. In the case of sickle cell trait (SCT), a person has inherited one abnormal hemoglobin gene from one parent and one normal gene from the other. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body. In this article, learn how SCT is diagnosed and what it means for the people who have it. What Is Sickle Cell Trait? Sickle cell trait (SCT) is an inherited blood disorder that affects the red blood cells. It affects between 1 and 3 million Americans and 8 to 10 percent of African Americans. People with SCT have inherited one gene for normal hemoglobin and one for sickle hemoglobin.   Abstract source