domingo, 24 de febrero de 2019

HemoTypeSC, a low-cost point-of-care testing device for sickle cell disease: Promises and challenges. - PubMed - NCBI

2019 Feb 8. pii: S1079-9796(19)30019-1. doi: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2019.01.007. [Epub ahead of print]

HemoTypeSC, a low-cost point-of-care testing device for sickle cell disease: Promises and challenges.

Nnodu O1, Isa H2, Nwegbu M2, Ohiaeri C3, Adegoke S4, Chianumba R2, Ugwu N5, Brown B6, Olaniyi J6, Okocha E7, Lawson J8, Hassan AA9, Diaku-Akinwumi I10, Madu A11, Ezenwosu O11, Tanko Y2, Kangiwa U12, Girei A13, Israel-Aina Y14, Ladu A15, Egbuzu P2, Abjah U15, Okolo A16, Akbulut-Jeradi N17, Fernandez M17, Piel FB18, Adekile A19.

Author information

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a neglected burden of growing importance. >312,000 births are affected annually by sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Early interventions such as newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis and hydroxyurea can substantially reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with SCD. Nevertheless, their implementation in African countries has been mostly limited to pilot projects. Recent development of low-cost point-of-care testing (POCT) devices for sickle haemoglobin (HbS) could greatly facilitate the diagnosis of those affected.

METHODS:

We conducted the first multi-centre, real-world assessment of a low-cost POCT device, HemoTypeSC, in a low-income country. Between September and November 2017, we screened 1121 babies using both HemoTypeSC and HPLC and confirmed discordant samples by molecular diagnosis.

FINDINGS:

We found that, in optimal field conditions, the sensitivity and specificity of the test for SCA were 93.4% and 99.9%, respectively. All 14 carriers of haemoglobin C were successfully identified. Our study reveals an overall accuracy of 99.1%, but also highlights the importance of rigorous data collection, staff training and accurate confirmatory testing. It suggests that HPLC results might not be as reliable in a resource-poor setting as usually considered.

INTERPRETATION:

The use of such a POCT device can be scaled up and routinely used across multiple healthcare centres in sub-Saharan Africa, which would offer great potential for the identification and management of vast numbers of individuals affected by SCD who are currently undiagnosed.