By Shalini Bhardwaj
New Delhi [India], June 21 : Sickle Cell Disease, a genetic blood disorder, leads to severe health complications such as anaemia, frequent pain episodes and other debilitating symptoms, affecting millions worldwide, especially in India and Africa.
According to Dr Prabhakar Kedar, Scientist F, ICMR--CRMCH, Chandrapur, India has Indigenous validated 35 company kits and 23 kits with 100 per cent accuracy and low cost for the detection of Sickle Cell Anaemia: " We have validated so far 35 company kits, 23 of which have shown 100% sensitivity and 12 of which have 95% sensitivity."
The sample collection is done from a finger prick mixed with buffer solution, and results are obtained in a few minutes. "A drop of capillary blood (usually from a finger prick) is collected. 2. The blood is mixed with buffer solution and placed on the test strip or cassette, 3. Reaction: The test uses antibodies to detect different haemoglobin variants (HbA, HbS and control band)." He explained
"Colored lines appear on the strip within 10 minutes to indicate the presence of normal haemoglobin (HbA), sickle haemoglobin (HbS), and control band." He said.
On utilisation of these kits, he said 2 kits per month are used, and for each kit we use 50 Sickle homozygous blood samples, 50 heterozygous and 50 normal blood samples."
"We used blood samples, which were first confirmed by the HPLC method, which is the gold standard for diagnosing sickle cell anaemia, " he said.
To support the fight against Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), two centres- ICMR-NIIH in Mumbai and CRMCH in Chandrapur, have been officially chosen by the government to test and approve new diagnostic kits.
"ICMR NIRRCH, along with PGI Chandigarh and ICMR-NIIH, conducted a comprehensive assessment and determined that point-of-care tests for Sickle Cell Disease/Trait among the high-risk population in India would be cost-effective if procured at INR 100 per test or below. Following the HTA recommendation, the National Health Mission instructed state health departments to procure the diagnostic kits at a maximum price of INR 100 per test. Through public tendering, the competitive procurement process drove the price of the kits down to INR 82 per test, significantly below the initial quote, resulting in a saving of Rs 1,857 crores. Subsequently, ICMR-NIIH has validated new kits, and further to it, the manufacturer has agreed to sell the kits at INR <50 per test," states ICMR-CRMCH.
These efforts are a big boost for the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission, which aims to eliminate the disease from India by 2047.