Sickle Cell Testing of College Athletes
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) requires all Division I, II, and III school athletes to be tested for sickle cell trait through a blood test.
Individuals with sickle cell trait have one sickle cell gene and one normal gene. If you have sickle cell trait, you typically won’t have any symptoms. Rarely, people with sickle cell trait develop serious health problems after experiencing extreme physical stress, such as loss of fluids (severe dehydration).
Athletes with sickle cell trait may need to take special precautions to lower their risk of training-related health problems and training-related death. You can learn more about college athletes and sickle cell trait by visiting the NCAA website.
How to Meet NCAA Sickle Cell Trait Testing Requirements
If you were born in Rhode Island and need to provide your college or university with sickle cell trait test results, you can:
1. Get tested for sickle cell trait
The easiest way to meet sickle cell trait testing requirements is to get a new blood test. Anyone can get sickle cell trait testing at a private laboratory. Your primary care provider may order sickle cell testing or refer you to a private lab.
You can learn about blood test costs and laboratories where you can get tested by searching for “sickle cell solubility test.” Students born before January 1, 2000, must use a private lab for testing and results.
2. Request Test Results from Rhode Island’s Newborn Screening Program
If you were born in Rhode Island, you can request your sickle cell trait test results from the Rhode Island Newborn Screening Program. Use this secure electronic form to have your sickle cell trait test results sent:
- Directly to you, if you are 18 or older
- To your parent or guardian, if you are not yet 18 years old
- To your primary care provider’s office
- To the health center at your college or university
Note: Sickle cell trait test results cannot be sent to your coach or to your college or university’s coaching staff.
If you are a student athlete and were not born in Rhode Island:
Contact the Newborn Screening office in the state where you were born. You will need to follow that state’s procedures for requesting your sickle cell trait test results.