Providing genetic risk information to parents of newborns with sickle cell trait: role of the general practitioner in neonatal screening.

Purpose: In 2007, the neonatal screening program in the Netherlands was expanded to include hemoglobinopathies. Newborns with sickle cell disease (SCD), as well as SCD carriers are identified. The benefit of reporting SCD carriers includes detection of more couples at risk (both parents are carriers) who can be informed about future reproductive choices, a responsibility of their general practitioner (GP).