Blood Group & Sickle Cell Genotype (AA, AS, SS)

This combined blood group and haemoglobin genotype profile is for anyone who needs to establish their ABO and Rh blood group alongside their sickle cell and thalassaemia carrier status. It is commonly requested before pregnancy or fertility treatment, prior to surgery or transfusion, for premarital or family planning purposes, and for individuals of African, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or South Asian heritage where haemoglobin variants are more prevalent. A simple blood sample is taken in clinic and analysed using standard haematological and haemoglobin analysis techniques, including full blood count parameters and haemoglobin variant identification.

The profile reports three complementary areas:

Blood Group
- ABO group: determines whether you are group A, B, AB, or O
- Rh (D) type: establishes whether you are Rh positive or Rh negative, which is important in pregnancy and transfusion compatibility

Red Blood Cells
- Red blood cell count (RBC) and haemoglobin (HGB): measures the number of red cells and the amount of oxygen-carrying haemoglobin
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH): red cell indices that help identify anaemia and can suggest thalassaemia trait when reduced

Haemoglobin Genotype
- Sickle cell status: identifies whether you carry the sickle cell gene (AS), are unaffected (AA), or are affected by sickle cell disease (SS)
- Thalassaemia status: screens for evidence of alpha or beta thalassaemia trait
- Haemoglobin components: quantifies HbA0, HbA2, HbF, HbS, HbA1b, HbA1c, and any other variant haemoglobin present, giving a detailed picture of your haemoglobin makeup

Why it matters
Knowing your blood group is essential for safe transfusion, pregnancy management (particularly Rh incompatibility), and surgical planning. Knowing your sickle cell and thalassaemia status is equally important: if you and your partner are both carriers, there is a one in four chance in each pregnancy of having a child affected by a serious inherited blood disorder. Early knowledge allows informed family planning, timely genetic counselling, and appropriate monitoring or treatment where needed. This profile gives you and your clinician a clear, combined picture of your blood type and inherited haemoglobin profile in a single test.

Blood Group
- ABO group
- Rh (D) type

Red Blood Cells
- Red blood cell count (RBC)
- Haemoglobin (HGB)
- Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)
- Mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH)

Haemoglobin Genotype
- Sickle cell status
- Thalassaemia status
- Haemoglobin A0 (HbA0)
- Haemoglobin A2 (HbA2)
- Haemoglobin F (HbF)
- Haemoglobin S (HbS)
- Haemoglobin A1b (HbA1b)
- Haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
- Any other haemoglobin variant present

No special preparation required.

For blood tests, we recommend drinking plenty of water beforehand to ensure smooth sample collection. If you are taking any regular medication, continue to do so unless advised otherwise by your doctor.