Screening

Hemoglobinopathies

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
1996

Recommendation

Neonatal screening for sickle hemoglobinopathies is recommended to identify infants who may benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent sepsis.

Whether screening should be universal or targeted to high-risk groups will depend on:

• The proportion of high-risk individuals in the screening area.
• The accuracy and efficiency with which infants at risk can be identified.
• Other characteristics of the screening program.

Offering screening for hemoglobinopathies to pregnant women at the first prenatal visit is recommended, especially for those at high risk.

There is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for hemoglobinopathies in high-risk adolescents and young adults, but recommendations to offer such testing may be made on other grounds.

All screening efforts must be accompanied by comprehensive counseling and treatment services.

Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2nd Edition
Screening for Hemoglobinopathies, 1996 (PDF File, 125 KB)

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