At a World Beta Thalassemia Day event on May 8 at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha Om Birla and Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda advocated for a national campaign to prevent and test for beta thalassemia, similar to the commitment made in tribal areas to address sickle cell disease. India-made Gazelle from HemexDx was used to screen those at the event, demonstrating the benefits of a point-of-care test for beta thalassemia. Gazelle is the only point-of-care diagnostic approved in India for sickle cell and includes beta thalassemia testing. The test is accurate (similar to standard lab tests), quick, and low cost. Early diagnosis of babies and children as well as screening adults to identify those carrying the gene associated with the blood disorders are seen as central to managing each disease. Made in India by HemexDx, Gazelle is a compact, rugged, battery-operated diagnostic platform that can be used by entry level healthcare workers in areas with limited access, resources, or electricity. Gazelle is approved for detecting sickle cell disease and Hb variants in a growing list of countries and integrates miniaturized versions of trusted technologies, innovative optics, and artificial intelligence. “The Gazelle diagnostic platform allows us to test for beta thalassemia in under-resourced, difficult to reach regions that are essential to reaching the eradication goal,” said Dr. Sunita Jetly, PhD Associate Professor, Department pf Biomedical Science, Acharya Narendradev College, University of Delhi one of our KOLs. “We are pleased with the technology and also find it beneficial for identifying sickle cell – another widespread health threat that causes so much suffering.” About Beta thalassemia According to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Science), beta thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder that decreases the production of hemoglobin – the protein that carries oxygen to the cells. Some patients may suffer severe, life-threatening cases of anemia. According to official estimates, India is home to over 42 million thalassemia trait carriers with 10,000 to 12,000 babies born with the disorder each year. Treatments include blood transfusions and bone marrow transplants. Many of these children will be dependent on ongoing transfusions for the rest of their lives. About Gazelle Gazelle is a compact, rugged, battery-operated in vitro diagnostic device. It is used inexpensively, with no cold chain requirements, by entry level healthcare workers in areas with limited access, resources, or electricity. Patient information and results are captured digitally for storage, printing, or later transmission. Gazelle is approved for detecting sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia in a growing list of countries and integrates miniaturized versions of trusted technologies, innovative optics, and artificial intelligence. This versatile approach allows the company to continually add diseases to its menu of tests and expand to new users. Gazelle is an accurate and rapid digital platform that can work just about anywhere in the world – from remote, low resource settings to drive-through testing, border crossings, or nursing homes. More information about Gazelle is available at https://hemexhealth.com/products. About Hemex Hemex Health breaks traditional barriers with its innovative diagnostic system that expands the potential of diagnostics for important conditions, making accurate tests accessible to new locations and new populations. Hemex Health designs diagnostic technologies for the real world by listening to the needs of healthcare providers including those in some of the most remote and challenging settings. The Gazelle technology was developed in collaboration with Case Western Reserve University. Hemex Health is in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. More information can be found at www.hemexhealth.com.