Sickle cell disease added to newborn screening program
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This article was published 19/06/2024 (655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The province has added sickle cell disease to its newborn screening program.
The expanded screening launched June 1, the Manitoba government announced Wednesday, which is World Sickle Cell Day.
The inherited blood disorder prevents red blood cells from carrying enough oxygen to the rest of the body and causes the cells to change shape and block blood vessels entirely. The disease is inherited when both parents carry the sickle cell gene.
The disorder is most commonly found in people of African, Middle Eastern, Asian and Caribbean descent.
More information on the newborn screening program can be found here.