MELBOURNE, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have developed a rapid blood test that can detect iron deficiency in 15 minutes, potentially improving diagnosis and treatment in low-resource settings worldwide.
Using a finger-prick blood sample, the test delivers accurate results at the point of care in a single visit, eliminating the need for specialized laboratory equipment while enabling rapid, convenient diagnosis, according to a statement released Thursday by Australia's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI).
Unlike hemoglobin screening, which can identify anemia but cannot confirm iron deficiency, the test measures ferritin, a biomarker of the body's iron stores. It includes a built-in reference line at the clinically important ferritin threshold of 30 ng/mL, helping healthcare workers identify iron deficiency at the point of care, researchers said.
The research team is now evaluating the test in Sub-Saharan Africa, with the goal of establishing it as the region's first validated point-of-care test for iron deficiency, the statement said, noting that iron deficiency is the most common cause of maternal anemia and affects millions of pregnant women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Emily Eriksson, who co-led the WEHI research team that developed the test, said the diagnostic could become a scalable solution for countries where access to laboratory testing and iron infusions is limited.
Researchers said the test could identify who would most benefit from iron infusions, ensuring limited treatment resources are targeted to those most in need. ■