New Smartphone App That Can Detect Anaemia through Fingernails

This new smartphone application will now measure the haemoglobin level and detect anaemia through fingernails. Developed by a team of biomedical engineers, the new novel smartphone application will detect anaemia non-invasively.

Due to the absence of melanin in fingernails, it is the perfect spot for detecting anaemia. Melanin is a substance which is responsible for providing colour to the human eyes, hair and skin. The test can be conducted among people with different skin tones.

According to Wilbur Lam, principal investigator on the development, traditionally, detection of anaemia requires external equipment, but the new standalone app can deliver accurate results like the currently available point-of-care tests without the need to draw blood.

According to the researchers, the standalone app is preferably meant for women who experience abnormal menstrual bleeding, pregnant women, athletes and runners and people suffering from chronic anaemia. People will be able to monitor their disease and identify the times when they need to adjust their therapies or receive transfusions.

The detail of the new app invention is published in the journal Nature Communication. The development is a part of doctoral work of a former student — Rob Mannino, an ex-engineering graduate started the research process by himself as he is suffering from beta-thalassemia patient, an inherited blood disorder that decreases the production of haemoglobin.

After that, Rob clicked pictures of his fingernails. The picture was carefully studied by the researchers and linked the colour of the fingernail with haemoglobin levels measured by complete blood count (CBC) in 337 people.

The results were very promising, as it showed some healthy and others with a variety of anaemia diagnoses.

The new standalone app for smartphones is expected to be launched in 2019 for public download.