Screening u.s. College athletes for their sickle cell disease carrier status.

Jordan LB, Smith-Whitley K, Treadwell MJ, Telfair J, Grant AM, Ohene-Frempong K.

Source

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, Baltimore, Maryland; Department of Sickle Cell Services, the Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, Florida.

Abstract

There are many issues surrounding the screening of collegiate athletes for their sickle cell disease carrier status (or sickle cell trait), a genetic condition. This paper summarizes the establishment of expert advice given to the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children (SACHDNC) on the issue. The SACHDNC has developed a report to advise the Secretary of the USDHHS about the 2010 rule of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requiring testing for sickle cell trait in all incoming Division I student athletes. The SACHDNC does not support the NCAA's rule to screen collegiate athletes for sickle cell trait.
Copyright © 2011 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.