Estimated incidence of sickle-cell disease in Aruba and St. Maarten suggests cost-effectiveness of a universal screening programme for St. Maarten.

Objective: To estimate the incidence of Sickle-Cell Disease (SCD) in Aruba and St. Maarten and to determine whether universal screening would be cost-effective according to United Kingdom criteria.

Methods: Consecutive cord blood samples were collected in Aruba and the Dutch part of St.