Sanguina
Industry: Easy-to-use diagnostic for anemia
Sanguina is a wellness tool company. Its flagship invention is AnemoCheck, an easy and convenient way to test for anemia.
Anemia is a condition in which a person has low levels of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It is typically caused by insufficient iron, folate or vitamin B12. Over a billion people suffer from anemia each year. Babies are especially at risk, and if their anemia isn’t treated, it can cause permanent damage to their brains.
Currently, anemia is diagnosed by obtaining a complete blood count through a test at a clinic. In developing countries, where people are more likely to suffer from the nutritional deficiencies that cause anemia, that clinical test can be hard or impossible to get.
AnemoCheck is an inexpensive, disposable and patient-operated test. Patients can check hemoglobin levels at home by pricking a finger to draw a small drop of blood, which is then mixed with a pre-made chemical solution. The liquid changes color to reveal the amount of hemoblogin present, and can diagnose low, medium or severe anemia.
The FDA-approved test could save the lives of millions who die each year due to undiagnosed anemia. Sanguina has also developed a smartphone app to check hemoglobin levels non-invasively by analyzing an image of the user’s fingernails.
Company website: Sanguina
