Sickle-cell anaemia (SCA), a genetic blood disorder, is a public health challenge as India is estimated to have the second-highest burden of the disease, with around 1.8 crore people with sickle cell traits and 14 lakhs with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell Anemia often causes red blood cells (RBCs) to become sickle-shaped through the presence of the abnormal hemoglobin S variant. Highly rigid sickle-shaped blood cells can block blood flow and lead to pain and organ damage and can also result in morbidity and mortality. Early detection and timely intervention are critical to managing the complications associated with the disease. Continuing with its effort to introduce quality diagnostic tests for diseases of public health importance, Mylab Discovery Solutions today launched a strip-based, rapid point of care test, PathoCatch Sickle Cell Rapid Test for Sickle Cell Anemia. Approved by CDSCO, this test aims to transform the way healthcare professionals diagnose and manage SCA, offering rapid and accurate results at the patient’s site. This will be instrumental in supporting the Govt.’s mission to eliminate SCA by 2047 from India.

Traditionally, diagnosing sickle cell anemia has been a laborious and time-consuming process, involving blood sample collection, transportation to a laboratory, and subsequent analysis by skilled technicians. This lengthy process often results in delayed diagnosis and treatment, leading to increased morbidity and mortality rates. By utilizing cutting-edge technology, PathoCatch Sickle Cell Rapid Test can detect the presence of abnormal hemoglobin in a small blood sample within a few minutes. It can be used easily by healthcare professionals without the use of laboratory equipment. The test is made up of three indicators, which detect the presence of hemoglobin A, S and C, allowing the user to rapidly distinguish between normal, carrier and sickle cell samples. It has a both combined sensitivity and specificity of 100%, making it one of the fastest and most accurate tests in India.

Speaking about the launch of the test, Hasmukh Rawal, MD & Co-founder, Mylab said, “ The public health implications of sickle-cell anaemia are significant as people who have sickle cell anemia face potentially life-threatening medical complications. Timely diagnostic testing and comprehensive care can significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from the disease. We are confident that PathoCatch Sickle Cell Rapid Test will help reduce the burden of sickle cell anemia in our country and support the Govt’s mission to eliminate the diseases by 2047.”

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease, meaning it runs from generation to generation. People who have the disease inherit two faulty genes — haemoglobin S, one from each parent; a person who has sickle cell trait inherits only one faulty gene. SCA is widespread among the tribal population in India where about 1 in 86 births among them have the disease.

PathoCatch Sickle Cell Rapid Test can be used in Blood Banks, Gynecology Hospitals, Primary/secondary health centers and Govt. Screening programs. The test can be used in resource-limited regions with a high prevalence of SCA, to provide timely diagnosis and support SCA screening programs. The test kit will be available at hospitals and labs by the end of this month.