Hemoglobe

Moderate to severe anemia is a major public health concern, particularly dangerous during pregnancy for both the mother and the baby. 100,000 maternal deaths and 600,000 neonatal deaths worldwide are attributable to anemia each year. The prevalence of anemia in the developing world is staggering, with estimates by the WHO of up to 50% among pregnant women and 65% among children.

There is a need for a device that can be used to widely and cheaply to screen for anemia. This device should enable identification of those at the highest risk, especially those with moderate-severe anemia in late gestation, in order to bring them “out of the cold” and into existing healthcare structures. Moreover, a device that is able to track patient data geographically and over time would facilitate macro-scale public health policy by enabling the targeting of health care initiatives to areas in need and by providing feedback on interventions. Such a device would have to be non-invasive and affordable.

Hemoglobe is a non-invasive anemia screening device that leverages the existing cell phone technology to provide a cost effective method for screening for anemia, while providing real time surveillance data about the status of the pregnant woman.