Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Preconception Leaflet

The United Kingdom has an established NHS Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Screening Programme that provides the option of screening for parents-to-be (antenatal) and newborn babies. (see https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/screeningprogramme/).

However, this programme does not officially include what is called ‘preconception testing’ – a specific blood test carried out before pregnancy to establish whether you carry any genes for sickle cell or thalassaemia. The Sickle Cell Society and UK Thalassaemia Society have collaboratively produced a leaflet particularly for individuals of child-bearing age who have not yet had children, but who want to find out if they carry these genes. It will give you current information on how you can get tested within the NHS, support after testing and on living with sickle cell and thalassaemia.

You can download the leaflet here.