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Newborn Screening Program

The Family Connection - Hemoglobin C Trait: How It Works

If one parent has Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) and the other parent has the usual Hemoglobin (AA):

If one parent has Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) and the other parent has the usual Hemoglobin (AA) - NONE OF THE CHILDREN WILL HAVE SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR SC DISEASE

For each pregnancy there is a 50% chance that the child will inherit Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) and a 50% chance that the child will have the usual kind of hemoglobin (AA).

NONE OF THE CHILDREN WILL HAVE SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR SC DISEASE

If one parent has Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) and the other parent has the Sickle Cell Trait (AS):

If one parent has Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) and the other parent has the Sickle Cell Trait (AS)- THESE CHANCES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY PREGNANCY

For each pregnancy there is a 25% chance of inheriting the usual hemoglobin (AA), a 25% chance of inheriting Sickle Cell Trait (AS), a 25% chance of inheriting Hemoglobin C Trait (AC), and a 25% chance of inheriting SC Disease (SC).

THESE CHANCES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY PREGNANCY

If both parents have Hemoglobin C Trait (AC):

If both parents have Hemoglobin C Trait (AC) - THESE CHANCES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY PREGNANCY

For each pregnancy there is a 25% chance that the child will inherit the usual kind of hemoglobin (AA), and a 50% chance that the child will have Hemoglobin C Trait (AC), and a 25% chance that the child will have Hemoglobin CC Disease -- This can cause a mild anemia which is not usually a serious problem.

THESE CHANCES ARE THE SAME FOR EVERY PREGNANCY

The fact that your baby has Hemoglobin C Trait tells us that at least one of the parents (either the mother or the father) has this trait as well. IF ONLY ONE OF THE PARENTS HAS THIS TRAIT, THEN THE COUPLE CANNOT PRODUCE A CHILD WITH SICKLE CELL DISEASE OR A FORM OF IT. This should be reassuring news.