Student-Athlete Sickle Cell Trait Statement printable pdf download

NYACK COLLEGE SPORTS MEDICINE DEPARTMENT

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SICKLE CELL TRAIT POLICY

As of August 2012, the NCAA requires all Division II student-athletes be tested for the Sickle Cell Trait as part of their pre-participation physical exam, prior to

any intercollegiate athletic events, including strength and conditioning, practices, competitions, or try-outs (*by-law 17.1.5.1). Nyack College is in compliance

with this mandate and requests that each prospective, incoming, and returning student-athlete provide the Office of Sports Medicine with documentation of their

sickle cell trait status prior to any participation including try-outs. This is a once in a lifetime test, so documentation only needs to be obtained once. To help you

understand this issue, some basic information is provided below, as well as a link to additional resources.

What is Sickle Cell Trait (SCT)?

Sickle Cell Trait is not a disease, but the

inherited condition of the oxygen-carrying protein, hemoglobin, in the red blood cells.

It is the inheritance of one gene

for normal hemoglobin (hemoglobin A) and one gene for sickle hemoglobin (hemoglobin S). SCT IS NOT Sickle Cell Anemia, in which two abnormal genes

are inherited (both hemoglobin S). SCT will not turn into Sickle Cell Anemia. SCT is considered generally benign and consistent with a long, healthy, active life.

Why test for SCT?

As stated above, SCT is usually benign, but during intense, sustained exercise, hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the muscles may cause sickling of red blood cells

(red blood cells changing from a normal disc shape to a crescent or “sickle” shape), which can accumulate in the bloodstream and “log-jam” blood vessels,

leading to collapse and even death due to the rapid breakdown of muscles starved of blood and/or

blocking blood flow to the tissues and muscles, including the

heart.

During intense exercise, athletes with SCT have sometimes experienced significant physical distress (exertional sickling) and collapsed during rigorous exercise.

Sickling can begin in 2-3 minutes of sustained, maximal exertion, such as wind sprints or running laps. The harder and faster the student-athlete goes, the earlier

and greater the sickling. Exertional sickling is a medical emergency, and should not be mistaken for heatstroke or heat cramping. Student-athletes

experiencing any distress or unusual symptoms during training, should report them immediately to the Nyack College Sports Medicine Staff and coach.

Heat,

dehydration, high altitude, and asthma can increase the risk for and worsen complications associated with SCT, even when exercise is not intense.

Can Student-Athletes With SCT Participate in Intercollegiate Athletics?

Sickle cell trait does not preclude any student-athletes from participation. However, carrying the trait increases the health risk to the student-athlete during

athletic participation. Therefore, that individual should be monitored carefully during activity. Student-athletes with SCT should not be excluded from

participation, as precautions can be put in place, but most student-athletes with SCT don’t know they have it.

For more information on SCT in student-athletes

also

Who may have SCT?

Sickle cell trait is a common condition, affecting more than 3 million Americans. Although SCT is most predominant in African-Americans and those of

Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Indian, Caribbean, and South and Central American ancestry, persons of all races and ancestry may test positive for SCT.

How can I be tested for SCT?

SCT is diagnosed by a simple blood test. Also, today all 50 states have newborn screening programs that identify sickle cell trait status at birth, however not all

states adopted screening in the same year (New York State started testing in 1975). If the student-athlete does not know their SCT status, they need to get a

SCT test done over the summer.

Testing options include:

If you have already been tested, during neonatal care, obtain a copy of the test results from your health care provider.

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If you were born in the United States after 1984 (states differ), you have most likely been tested at

birth. To verify testing at birth the

student-athlete can contact his or her primary care physician, their pediatrician at birth, or the hospital where he or she was born.

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A written note from the doctor or marking their status on a physical form are not acceptable forms of documentation, you must bring a copy

of the official results to the Nyack College Sports Medicine Staff.

Get tested through your primary physician. If your insurance covers it, go get tested as part of your pre-participation physical as prescribed by your

doctor. A written note from the doctor or marking their status on a physical form are not acceptable forms of documentation, you must bring a copy of

the official results to the Nyack College Sports Medicine Staff.

Using the online Medivo website (cost is $32.50 and you MUST be at least 18 years old). A new agreement with Quest Diagnostics’ national

laboratories will give NCAA member institutions and their student-athletes access to affordable blood tests for SCT through its 2,000 patient-service

centers (PSC).

This is an online patient-centered laboratory test ordering service.

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The student-athlete will go to the following website

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Through the easy to use and secure online system, the student-athlete will:

Sign-up and order the SCT test.

Find the nearest Quest Diagnostic PSC location to them.