New Delhi, 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 % accuracy and low cost for Sickle Cell Anaemia detection, "we have validated so far 35 company kits and 23 have shown 100 per cent sensitivity and 12 kits 95 per cent 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 coll...