Screening for sickle cell trait: the Veterans Administration National Sickle Cell Program.

Results of the Veterans Administration Sickle Cell Program for a period of 10 years are presented. We screened 370,250 patients; 404,341 attended educational sessions, and 38,347 had individual counseling sessions. Sickle cell trait was present in 6.4% of patients, and HbC trait was present in 1.8%. The clinically significant disorders HbSC disease, sickle cell anemia, and sickle beta thalassemia were present in 0.41% of individuals screened. A large number of uncommon variants were detected. The program enhanced the awareness of and the approach to evaluation of hemoglobinopathies.