Lucknow News | CSIR IITR develops rapid haemoglobin testing kit; fast and affordable test at ₹10

Traditional methods for checking haemoglobin levels typically required sophisticated instruments and access to clinical laboratory settings, making them impractical in remote or rural areas.

Now, with a motive to provide a cost-effective and accurate solution for testing Lucknow's CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) has launched an indigenous rapid haemoglobin testing kit called 'SenzHb'.

This kit costs a small fraction of cost of other haemoglobin assay kits available in the market. Furthermore, this kit can be used by anyone and gives accurate results in just 30 seconds.

Portable haemoglobin assay kits have existed in the market from quite a while. These kits enable quick and precise results without the need for extensive laboratory equipment or facilities. Unfortunately, the affordability of portable haemoglobin assay kits remains a concern. The cost of these kits can be relatively high, making them inaccessible to a significant portion of the population.

In contrast, IITR's SenzHb kit is a cost-effective and user-friendly paper-based haemoglobin test kit. Priced at just ₹10 per test, it offers an economical solution for haemoglobin testing. Additionally, the kit is designed to be easy to use, eliminating the need for an expert medical professional to administer the test.

Reportedly, this indigenously developed product is yet another breakthrough from CSIR-IITR and to ensure the accuracy and reliability of SenzHb, extensive validation was also conducted.

The portable haemoglobin assay kit includes a paper-based, colourimetric strip-type sensor along with other essential equipment for testing.

Using the kit is a straightforward process - an individual pricks their finger with the included needle, places a drop of blood on the strip, and observes the color change on the strip. By comparing the strip's colour change with the provided "changed colour guidelines" in the kit, one can determine if they are anaemic or not.

Additionally, the kit also comes with a QR code, which can be scanned for accessing the step by step guide on how to use the kit.