Revolutionizing Diagnosis: India's Affordable Test Kit for Hemophilia and Von Willebrand Disease

The National Institute of Immunohaematology has developed a cost-effective test kit for early diagnosis of hemophilia A and Von Willebrand Disease. This innovation promises wider accessibility and potential healthcare savings, addressing significant public health challenges in India related to underdiagnosis and limited access to diagnostic facilities.

An innovative and affordable point-of-care test kit has been developed by the National Institute of Immunohaematology to diagnose genetic bleeding disorders like hemophilia A and Von Willebrand Disease in India. This new testing kit represents a significant shift from the existing costly and complex diagnostic procedures that are currently available only in a handful of tertiary facilities.

Dr. Rucha Patil, a scientist at the Mumbai-based institute, emphasized its importance due to the widespread underdiagnosis and limited healthcare access in India. The test, priced at just Rs 582, offers a more accessible alternative compared to lab-based procedures costing around Rs 2,086.

The initiative is also receiving international attention, with the World Federation for Hemophilia expressing interest. Its integration into India's primary health centers could vastly improve early detection and patient outcomes for the estimated 1.5 lakh people with hemophilia, of whom only 27,000 are currently diagnosed.

(With inputs from agencies.)