An Instantaneous Low-Cost Point-of-Care Anemia Detection Device

Abstract

We present a small, compact and portable device for point-of-care instantaneous early detection of anemia. The method used is based on direct hematocrit measurement from whole blood samples by means of impedance analysis. This device consists of a custom electronic instrumentation and a plug-and-play disposable sensor. The designed electronics rely on straightforward standards for low power consumption, resulting in a robust and low consumption device making it completely mobile with a long battery life. Another approach could be powering the system based on other solutions like indoor solar cells, or applying energy-harvesting solutions in order to remove the batteries. The sensing system is based on a disposable low-cost label-free three gold electrode commercial sensor for 50 μL blood samples. The device capability for anemia detection has been validated through 24 blood samples, obtained from four hospitalized patients at Hospital Clínic. As a result, the response, effectiveness and robustness of the portable point-of-care device to detect anemia has been proved with an accuracy error of 2.83% and a mean coefficient of variation of 2.57% without any particular case above 5%.

Point-of-Care Diagnostics: Recent Developments in a Connected Age

“…Both the colorimetric anemia test and HIV/hemoglobin detection systems leveraged smartphone integration for quantitative measurement. A low-cost, lower-power electronic device showed hematocrit measurement from whole blood via changes in impedance using disposable low-cost, electrode sensors and 50uL samples 218 . A fingerstick capillary tube could also be adapted to perform an anemia measurement via visual interpretation of color change 219 , including a demonstration of the assay with prefilled reagents stored for 8 months in local conditions in Angola 219 .…”

Point-of-care diagnostics to improve maternal and neonatal health in low-resource settings

“…In addition to rotational separation, technologies have been developed to quantify hematocrit through impedance spectroscopy 128,129 and paper-based plasma separation. 130 Impedance spectroscopy utilizes the principle that higher hematocrit levels will increase the current flow path between reference and working electrodes.…”

“…Further evaluation of complex samples and of clinical utility is required. 129 The paper-based approach utilizes the natural fluid-wicking properties of paper to differentially separate blood cells from plasma. The paper-based devices are low-cost (US $0.03), though time-to-results (30 min) is much longer than with centrifugation.…”

Development and validation of a noncontact spectroscopic device for hemoglobin estimation at point-of-care

“…Anemia is one of the most common global health problems affecting both developed and developing countries; it has farreaching and severe adverse effects on human health and strongly affects socioeconomic development. 1 Approximately two billion people-nearly 30% of the world population-are estimated to be currently anemic, [2][3][4] and women of reproductive age, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and children are the most vulnerable populations. [5][6][7] The 2015 World Health Organization (WHO) fact sheets on the global statistics of anemia show that roughly 273 million (43%) children, 32.4 million (38%) pregnant women, 496 million (29%) nonpregnant women, and 29% of all women of reproductive age are anemic.…”