What is the size of a sickle red blood cell?

The size of a sickle red blood cell can vary depending on the stage of sickling. In the unsickled state, sickle red blood cells are similar in size to normal red blood cells, with an average diameter of approximately 7-8 micrometers (µm). However, when sickle red blood cells undergo sickling, they become elongated, crescent-shaped, and more rigid. The elongated sickle-shaped cells can be several times longer than unsickled red blood cells, reaching lengths of up to 20-30 µm or even longer.