Published: 4th Aug, 2020
Recently, the device called “AJO-Neo” is developed by researchers from S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns.
Context
Recently, the device called “AJO-Neo” is developed by researchers from S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS), Kolkata for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns.
About
- SNBNCBS developed a “No-touch” & “Painless” device for non-invasive screening of bilirubin level in new-borns.
- The operation of the device is based on non-contact and non-invasive spectrometry-based techniques for measurement of neonatal bilirubin level as an alternative of total serum bilirubin (TSB) test without limitations of other available bilirubin meters.
- The newly developed device (AJO-Neo) is reliable in measuring bilirubin levels in preterm, and term neonates irrespective of gestational or postnatal age, sex, risk factors, feeding behavior or skin color.
- The device is found to deliver an almost instantaneous report (about 10 seconds) to a concerned doctor, who is sitting 10000 km away from the point of care.
Significance of the achievement
- This is a significant achievement compared to the conventional “blood test” method, which may take more than 4 hours to generate the report.
- It has to be noted that detection of neonatal blood bilirubin (Hyperbilirubinemia) faster is extremely important for therapeutic management in order to avoid Kernicterus leading to Neuo-psychiatry problems in neonatal subjects.
- Careful screening of bilirubin level in new-borns is mandatory as per American Academy of Paediatrics (2004), to reduce incidents of a type of brain damage called kernicterus that can result from high levels of bilirubin in a baby's blood.
- Although invasive capillary collection of blood and the subsequent biochemical test is considered a gold standard for jaundice detection in neonates, transcutaneous bilirubin measurement using non-invasive instruments has obvious added advantages.
- AJO-Neo also shows several advantages compared to other similar imported devices in the market.
Bilirubin
- It is a yellowish substance in the blood. It forms after red blood cells break down, and it travels through liver, gallbladder, and digestive tract before being excreted. It is a necessary process in the body's clearance of waste products that arise from the destruction of aged or abnormal red blood cells.
S.N. Bose National Centre For Basic Sciences (SNBNCBS)
- It is an autonomous research Institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
- The institute is also hosting one of the Technical Research Centres (TRC) funded by DST and in scientific collaboration with Nil-RatanSircar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
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