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hepatitis application
bglas19
May 15 1998 9:37AM EDT
As a medical laboratory worker (Medical Technologist) I have an interest in the device in question. There
is no doubt that any non invasive bilirubin diagnostic will have a very good market in the infant bilirubin
area. I am the guy who has had to collect the blood sample from the 3 pound premi 3 times a day, while
the mom crys and the dad wants to hit me.
But my real question is has anyone looked at the potential for this device in monitoring bilirubin levels in
hepatic diseases, especially viral hepatitis. CDC #'s
cdc.gov for the USA show over 7 million cases
of Hepatitis A-E each year. These lead to over 5 million ongoing chronic infections which ultimatly lead
to chronic liver disease. Bilirubin monitoring is routine in all cases of suspected or diagnosed liver
disease, with multiple testing over several weeks or months as the usual procedure. (increasing Bilirubin
levels indicating increased liver damage)
I don't have a total number of bilirubin test performed each year
in the US, but the number associated with infants is only a part of the total.
While the US numbers are big, the incidence of Viral Hepatitis in the US is very low compared to the rest
of the world. Also, a reusable, non invasive device, which can be used at the doctors office, or by
goverment health workers in the field, will be well accepted in developing countries where there are
severe shortages of even the most basic laboratory services. (I know, I've been there in Brasil, Paraguay,
Uruguay, Bolivia, South Afica, etc)
I don't know what the final numbers will be, or if, or when a distrubution deal will happen. But, if this
thing works (and FDA says it does) I have no doubt about the market potential, and some big players will
want a piece of the action.<<
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