Sickle cell disease (SCD): investigations

Full blood count

• Red blood cells (RBC)
• White blood cells (WBC)
• Platelet count
• Haematocrit
• Haemoglobin (Hb)
• Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
• Red cell distribution width (RDW)

Sickle cell detection tests

Genetic testing techniques

Transcranial Doppler (TCD)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain: sequences

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): brain findings

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): skeletal findings

Emerging investigations

References

1. Arishi WA, Alhadrami HA, Zourob M. Techniques for the detection of sickle cell disease: a review. Micromachines (Basel) 2021; 12:519.
2. Mallon D, Doig D, Dixon L, Gontsarova A, Jan W, Tona F. Neuroimaging in sickle cell disease: a review. J Neuroimaging 2020; 30:725-735.
3. Mazzucco S, Diomedi M, Qureshi A, Sainati L, Padayachee ST. Transcranial doppler screening for stroke risk in children with sickle cell disease: a systematic review. Int J Stroke 2017; 12:580-588. 
4. Cherry MG, Greenhalgh J, Osipenko L, et al. The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of primary stroke prevention in children with sickle cell disease: a systematic review and economic evaluation. Health Technol Assess 2012; 16:1-129.
5. Pegelow CH, Macklin EA, Moser FG, et al. Longitudinal changes in brain magnetic resonance imaging findings in children with sickle cell disease. Blood 2002; 99:3014-3018.
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Related checklists

• Sickle cell disease (SCD): genetics and pathology
• Sickle cell disease (SCD): systemic features
• Sickle cell disease (SCD): neurological features
• Sickle cell disease (SCD): standard treatments
• Sickle cell disease (SCD): stroke treatment