Anemia Screening Test Intended for Developing Countries

PRESS RELEASE 2006-10

In an unprecedented effort, the United Nations has established eight Millennium Development Goals aimed at improving the lot of the world’s poor. Three of the eight goals are directly related to health: reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. Detection and control of anemia will be central in meeting these goals. HemoCue^® has launched a method for anemia screening, HemoCue^® Hb 301. The HemoCue^® Hb 301 system offers a cost-effective way to get immediate and lab-accurate hemoglobin results. As HemoCue^® Hb 301 is portable, battery or mains operated and designed for high temperatures and humidity, it is the perfect tool for hemoglobin testing. It can be used by non-laboratory personnel after minimal training.

In developing countries, where it is estimated (WHO) that more than 2 billion individuals are suffering from anemia, there is a very large clinical need for an anemia-screening product with these characteristics. Many methods exist for hemoglobin testing. However, most of these do not satisfy the clinical standards needed for the detection and management of anemia. Some of the methods, while cheap, can only be used by experienced personnel and involve toxins or blood handling that poses a direct risk to the user. Particular problems with correct anemia diagnosis are faced when using visual testing methods, which involve assessing clinical symptoms or assays with the naked eye.

"HemoCue^® Hb 301 will make hemoglobin testing possible in climates and applications where accurate point-of-care testing has been beyond reach, primarily due to cost. We hope that this invention will be able to support improvements in global health care where it is needed the most", says Thomas Glanzmann, CEO at HemoCue^® AB