Newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Lubumbashi

Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder of hemoglobin. It results from a point mutation in the 6th codon of the beta -globin gene (on chromosome 11), followed by the substitution of valine for glutamic acid in the hemoglobin chain. In developing countries, it is often diagnosed late due to the high cost and complexity of conventional diagnostic methods. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic reliability of the Sickle SCAN® test in neonatal screening with reference to Hb electrophoresis in Lubumbashi.The present study showed that the Sickle scan test is a reliable, beneficial and efficient tool that we recommend for systematic, large-scale screening for sickle cell disease in the DRC.

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Tina Katamea, born in 1982, has been a specialist pediatrician since 2015, practicing at the University Clinics of Lubumbashi. A doctor since 2022, she is an associate professor with expertise in hematological pathologies and neonatology. She is active in research and charity work for disadvantaged children.