A nurse is caring for an infant whose screening test reveals a potential diagnosis of sickle cell disease. Which of the following tests should the nurse expect the provider to prescribe to distinguish whether the infant has sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait?

A. Transcranial doppler: This test is used to assess blood flow in the brain and is often used for children with sickle cell disease to evaluate the risk of stroke. It is not used to distinguish between sickle cell disease and trait. B. Sickle solubility test: This test is used to identify sickling in red blood cells, which can indicate sickle cell disease, but it does not differentiate between sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. C. Complete blood count (CBC): While a CBC can provide information about anemia and red blood cell characteristics, it cannot differentiate between sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait. D. Hemoglobin electrophoresis: This test is the gold standard for diagnosing sickle cell disease and trait. It separates different types of hemoglobin based on their electrical charge, allowing for the identification of hemoglobin S (sickle hemoglobin), which distinguishes between sickle cell disease (homozygous) and sickle cell trait (heterozygous).