Portable, affordable, quantitative microchip electrophoresis for hemoglobin A1C testing

PROJECT SUMMARY Diabetes is one of the most important health issues in the worldIt is a disease that disproportionately affects low and middle income countriesNot only is diabetes a major cause of morbidity and mortalityit can devastate the finances of families and strain countriesfinancial resourcesKey components for addressing this healthcare crises include early diagnosis as well as ongoing monitoring of the conditionAccess to testinghowevercan be limited in many developing countries due to the lack of skilled healthcare workers as well as costTo address this needHemex Health is developing an accuratelow costeasy to use hemoglobin A C test that can be administered by an entry level healthcare worker after a short trainingThe test is based on our proprietary HemeChip technology known as microchip electrophoresisThe current form of the HemeChip assay accurately identifies and quantifies hemoglobin variantsand is currently in the process of commercialization with a focus on hemoglobinopathiesincluding sickle cell disease and thalassemiaThe proposed project aims to translate the cellulose acetate based A C electrophoresis method to the HemeChip platform as a portableaffordableand quantitative testFor many yearsthe A C testwhich measures glucose control over a period of monthshas become an important tool in wealthier countries for managing diabetesIt is also more convenient than glucose tests that require fastingThe Hemex devicebecause of its ease of useportabilityand affordabilitycan bring A C testing to where the need is the greatestIt will offer millions of people an easy and affordable screening device and for diabetics the opportunity for regular monitoring in order to better control their disease PROJECT NARRATIVE Diabetes is a disease that disproportionately affects low and middle income countriesEffective management of diabetes should include early diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of the conditionbut access to testing can be limited in many developing countries due to the lack of skilled healthcare workers as well as costTo address this needHemex Health is proposing to develop an accuratelow costeasy to use A C test that can be administered by an entry level healthcare worker after a short training