Technician preparing a blood coating for a test for a crescent for diagnosis of anemia of sickle cells. | Photo Credit: Representative Photos
The CSIR-SICLE Cell Anemia mission has so far been projected by almost 28 lakh people in several countries and found that the prevalence of carriers and patients with anemia of sickle cells (SCA) is 8-10%and 09-1.0%respectively.
In July 2023, a national mission for elimination of anemia (NSCAEM) began national sickle cells, so that the disease by 2047 tried to project seven people up to the age of 40 in tribal areas with high prevalence and then consultancy.
However, after screening nearly 5.3 people crore across states, it shows that 2.38% of the population are carriers and 0.36% could be sick people. However, it is quite possible that the number of carriers and diseases, according to scientists, could be much higher between the tribal population and others.
This is because CSIR-Centre for cellular and molecular biology (CCMB) under its own large screening program in the Maharaštra district shows the prevalence of the disease to about 1.4%, which has a disease and 23.5% of the population are carriers.
“This is our hypothesis based on our own low cost, a fast and reliable molecular blood -based molecular test (DBR) as proven as a screening test confirmation of CUM with specificity and sensitivity by 100% of the Indian Medical Research Council (ICMR).”
He said that with a drop of blood, the original test is able to distinguish between normal, carriers and sick individuals. Over the years, he has been successfully tested in Chhattisgarh, Mahari, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
In fact, NSCAEM uses another screening model dependent on solubility-based screening followed by capillary electrophoresis and the method is most likely to miss carriers and patients (4-8%). Furthermore, there are high costs for confirmation of the final diagnosis, because it is necessary to retrace the solubility of the positive individual and the collection of intravenous anticoagulated blood, Mr. Chandak explained.
By the way, CSIR-CCMB is not part of the NSCAEM mission because it is coordinated by the Ministry of Master and the Ministry of Health and Family Care. “Our testing method has been evaluated by the Ministry of Health and Family and Niti-Aayog’s care and is now included in the NSCaem portal. We are consulted with different parties and we are ready to contribute to the mission,” he added.
Published – April 5, 2025 12:53
