The portable instrument, which costs about Rs 25,000, can bring down the cost of a test to as low as Re 1.
An Ahmedabad-based doctor and his engineer son have developed a device that can detect Vitamin A deficiency without drawing a blood sample. The existing test is available at a few diagnostic labs and costs anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000.
The doctor, Rajesh Mehta, head of community medicine, Sola Civil Hospital, said Vitamin A deficiency usually remains undetected and such patients struggle to see things in dim light. He said patients take more time to adapt to sudden changes in lighting compared to a normal person. "This can prove to be fatal, particularly if such a person is driving."
Mehta has developed manual and electronic versions of the device – Dark Adaptometer. The portable instrument, which costs about Rs 25,000, can bring down the cost of a test to as low as Re 1.
Mehta told DNA: "In 1986, when I was posted in Narmada district, I found that I was unable to see anything in the dim light while returning from a village. Most people consider this condition as normal and that is why the problem of Vitamin A deficiency goes undetected. I have worked on this device for over two decades. I have also applied for a patent."
Because of its low cost, portability, and low maintenance, the device can be used by schools, colleges, associations, hospitals and small clinics for instant diagnosis of Vitamin A deficiency, which also triggers childhood blindness, asthma and stomach infection. The digital avatar of the device, developed by Mehta's son, who is studying embedded technology in the US, is likely to cost Rs 90,000.
The hand-held device works on a simple principle of adjustment of the human eye to low light intensities in which the intensity is measured in 0-999 absolute units. The intensity of light can be increased or decreased as per the requirement to check a patient's vision.
According to Mehta, if a person is Vitamin A deficient, he will require light intensities greater than 500 absolute units to see clearly. Such a patient has to be administered Vitamin A supplements and then can be tested again to check improvement. If a patient requires light intensities greater than 900 absolute units, then he immediately needs to visit a doctor.
Too Costly Now
|
The test to detect Vitamin A deficiency now costs between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,000. It also requires a blood sample.
But the portable device (left) – Dark Adaptometer – can do it without a prick |
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Dr Mehta")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}