Ghana Study Reveals Sickle Cell Trait Misdiagnosis Risk

A study conducted by Ghanaian researchers, presented at ADLM 2026 in Anaheim, California, indicates that individuals with sickle cell trait may be at risk of undiagnosed prediabetes or diabetes due to significant underestimation of glucose levels by the immunoturbidimetry method compared to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Dr Elikem Kumahor, the lead author and a specialist laboratory physician at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, noted that the findings are crucial for Ghana, where approximately 30 percent of the population carries sickle cell trait.

The study analyzed 1,283 HbA1c tests from adults at a tertiary hospital in Accra in January and February 2026. Results showed that among 198 participants with sickle cell trait, only 11.1 percent were classified as prediabetic using immunoassay, while 34.5 percent were identified as prediabetic using HPLC.

For diabetes classification, HPLC identified four percent as diabetic, whereas none were classified as such using immunoassay. The study underscores the importance of accurate HbA1c testing methods in diagnosing diabetes.