Bio-Rad Laboratories India, a subsidiary of Bio-Rad Laboratories USA, organized the sixth Thalassemia user meeting at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College & General Hospital, Mumbai recently. The seminar focused on the best practices, challenges and solutions associated with the screening and diagnosis of Thalassemia and Haemoglobinopathies.
The seminar addressed many important issues. Dr Barbara Wild, acting head of Haemoglobinopathy Genetics Centre, UCLH NHS Foundation Trust, spoke about the guidelines for haemoglobinopathy screening and detailed implementation strategies.
Dr John Old, consultant Clinical Scientist National Haemoglobinopathy Reference Laboratory, Oxford Haemophilia Centre, Churchill Hospital, Oxford spoke about the dilemma of identifying and correctly diagnosing HbA2 values. A lecture on the basics of CBC testing with special reference to haemoglobinopathies was delivered by Dr Mamta Manglani, professor, HOD-Paediatrics, LTMG Hospital, Mumbai.
The highlight of the meeting was an afternoon workshop during which detailed knowledge was imparted by the international speakers on the diagnosis of various conditions of thalassaemia and haemoglobinopathies.
Bio-Rad launched a new tool to aid interpretation of various haemoglobinopathy conditions - called LOV - Library of Variants. Marco Flamini, marketing manager, Thalassemia Division, Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA briefed the audience on the same. Library of Variants will be an excellent resource for labs and hospitals in the country and worldwide that are involved in screening of haemoglobinopathies to overcome the challenge of interpretation of various conditions.
Bio-Rad's Variant HPLC is considered the gold standard for detection of Thalassaemia and haemoglobinoipathies and the Library of Variants will prove to be of immense help to laboratories to allow more effective reporting of test results.
Bio-Rad has been actively involved in spreading awareness and providing solutions for screening and detection of thalassemia and haemoglobinopathies at various forums and in labs and hospitals.
Balram Parath, country manager, Bio-Rad India, stressed, 'the relevance of such initiatives in view of rising cases of Thalassemia being reported in the country', and reiterated Bio-Rad's commitment to similar programmes, which are an integral part of Bio-Rad's local community initiatives. This is the sixth straight year that the company has organized a platform to bring national and international faculty together to discuss on the subject and share their expertise and experiences.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mamta Manglani, professor & head of Department of Paediatrics & chief of Division of Haematology - Oncology and incharge of the Regional Paediatric ART Centre said, "With no proven cure for Thalassaemia in contemporary times the only recourse lies in timely testing and detection of Thalassaemia towards preventing further proliferation of the disorder." During her informative talk to the audience she emphasized on mandatory testing during pre-marriage period so as to elude any future agony.
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