Red blood cells usually look like round discs. But in sickle cell disease, they're shaped like crescent moons, or an old farm tool known as a sickle. These sickle shaped cells get stuck together easily, and block off small blood vessels. When blood can't get to where it should, it can lead to pain and organ damage.

What does a person look like with sickle cell?

Healthy red blood cells are round, and they move through small blood vessels to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. In someone who has SCD, the red blood cells become hard and sticky and look like a C-shaped farm tool called a “sickle”. The sickle cells die early, which causes a constant shortage of red blood cells.

How do you check sickle?

The best way to check for sickle cell trait or sickle cell disease is to look at the blood using a method called high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This test identifies which type of hemoglobin is present. To confirm the results of HPLC, a genetic test may be done.