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Learn MoreHemoglobin C trait is a change (mutation) in a gene that helps make hemoglobin in red blood cells. All red blood cells contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body.
People with normal hemoglobin have only one type, hemoglobin A. People with hemoglobin C trait have hemoglobin A and hemoglobin C in their red blood cells.
Most people with hemoglobin C trait have no signs or symptoms of illness. The trait normally does not cause any health problems.
People with hemoglobin C trait do not have hemoglobin C disease or hemoglobin SC disease. They cannot develop the conditions later in life. But they can pass the genes for the diseases on to their children.
Hemoglobin C trait is most common among African Americans or people of African ancestry. In the United States, about one 1 in 40 Black or African American babies are born with hemoglobin C trait. Hemoglobin C trait is also more common in people whose ancestors came from Italy, Greece, Latin America, and the Caribbean. But it is possible for a person of any nationality or ancestry to have hemoglobin C trait.
A simple blood test can let you know if you have hemoglobin C trait. These tests are often done as part of routine newborn screening. Your doctor may suggest the test if someone in your family has hemoglobin C trait.
Hemoglobin C trait runs in families. Like eye color or hair color, the genes for hemoglobin C trait are inherited, or passed from parents to children.
Parents who have hemoglobin C trait can have a child with hemoglobin C disease or hemoglobin SC disease. Whether a child has the disease depends on genes from both parents. This is why it is important to understand how hemoglobin C trait is passed on and how it can affect the health of your children and grandchildren.
If one parent has hemoglobin C trait and the other parent has normal hemoglobin:
With each pregnancy, there is a 50% (1 in 2) chance of having a child with hemoglobin C trait.
These are the possible outcomes with each pregnancy:
If both parents have hemoglobin C trait:
With each pregnancy, there is a 25% (1 in 4) chance of having a child with hemoglobin C disease.
These are the possible outcomes with each pregnancy:
If one parent has hemoglobin C trait and the other parent has sickle cell trait:
With each pregnancy, there is a 25% (1 in 4) chance of having a child with hemoglobin SC disease, also called sickle hemoglobin C disease.
People who have hemoglobin SC disease have red blood cells that contain both hemoglobin S and hemoglobin C. Hemoglobin SC disease is a lifelong illness that can cause serious health problems. People with the disease need medical treatment.
These are the possible outcomes with each pregnancy:
To learn more about hemoglobin C trait, talk to your doctor or genetic counselor. Your care team can give more details about your trait status and that of your child.
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Reviewed: December 2023
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