Anemia Self-Screening Kit

The first self-screening kit for anemia is designed for use by people at risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), such as those with diabetes or high blood pressure.

The new test, called AnemiaPro, enables people at risk for chronic kidney disease to check their blood for possible signs of anemia in the privacy and convenience of their home. Anemia, a low red-blood-cell count, is an important and often overlooked symptom of CKD. The test was developed by Ortho Biotech Products L.P. (Bridgewater, NJ, USA) and has been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

More than 20 million people in the United States alone are estimated to have CKD, a progressive condition in which the kidneys are unable to function effectively, and most don't even know it. In addition to diabetes and high blood pressure patients, those at risk include people with a family history of kidney disease and those over the age of 65.

The AnemiaPro single-use test requires placing a single drop of blood from a finger stick into the test device. Within 20 minutes, the test will show a numeric reading of the hemoglobin count. The results should be shared with a doctor, who can then confirm or rule out a diagnosis of anemia and its possible causes. "It is important that patients discuss symptoms of chronic kidney disease, such as fatigue, dizziness, or shortness of breath, with their doctors as soon as possible,” advised Alexander Salerno, M.D., an internal medicine specialist who treats people with CKD in the Newark (NJ, USA) area.




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Ortho Biotech