News Excerpt:

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited Expression of Interest (EoI) from eligible organisations, companies, and start-ups manufacturing non-invasive haemoglobinometers that are useful in effectively screening anaemia.

• The test and treat strategy requires a simple, easy-to-use, non-invasive haemoglobinometer, which will be acceptable to all, especially young children.

Haemoglobinometer:

• About: 
  • A haemoglobinometer is a clinical laboratory instrument measuring the amount of haemoglobin (Hb) in the blood. It is also called a hemochromometer.

• Various Methods for Hemoglobin Estimation:

• • Different methods have been developed and standardised in estimating haemoglobin (Hb) in recent years. These techniques are broadly classified into -
    • Invasive Methods - For these methods, the blood sample is collected from the individuals by a trained medical provider inserting a needle through the skin.
    • Noninvasive Techniques - these procedures do not break the skin or physically pierce the body. They use imaging principles and sensors to perform the tests.

• Working principle:

• • A hemoglobinometer is a specialised photometric device that measures Hb concentration in the blood by correlating to its optical density (liner correlation). The working principle of hemoglobinometers (both conventional and digital) is based on Beer-Lambert’s law.

• Beer-Lambert’s Law:

• • The absorbance (capacity to absorb light) of a pure compound is directly proportional to the absolute concentration of that particular compound.
  • A known concentration of an absorbing substance with a definite wavelength is standardised, and its absorbance readings are used to calculate the concentration of the unknown absorbing substance.
  • The photometry method of hemoglobinometers is based on this law, where the absorbance of the Hb-reagent compound is compared with the absorbance (radiant energy at a particular wavelength)with a standard calibration.

• Normal Reference Values of Hb:

• • Males - 13 to 17 g/dL.
  • Females - 12 to 15 g/dL.

• WHO Cut-off Value for the Presence of Anemia:

• Males < 13 g/dL.
• Females < 12 g/dL.
• Pregnant women < 11 g/dL.

About Anaemia:

• Anaemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body's tissues.

• Symptoms: Tiredness, Weakness, Shortness of breath, Pale or yellowish skin, Irregular heartbeat, Dizziness or lightheadedness, Chest pain, Cold hands and feet, and Headaches.

• Prevalence of anaemia in India:

• As per the National Family Health Survey - 5 (2019-21), it is prevalent among six groups - 
• 25% in men (15-49 age group), 
• 57% in women (15-49), 
• 31.1% in adolescent boys (15-19), 
• 59.1 % in adolescent girls, 
• 52.2 % in pregnant women (15-49) 
• 67.1% in children (6-59).