Portable Point-of-Care Device for Simultaneous Quantification of G6PD Activity and Haemoglobin in Resource-Limited Settings
Rehab Osman Taha
Graduate Program in Bioclinical Sciences, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Napaporn Youngvises
Drug Discovery and Development Center, Office of Advanced Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Runtikan Pochairach
Drug Discovery and Development Center, Office of Advanced Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
Papichaya Phompradit
Center of Excellence in Pharmacology and Molecular Biology of Malaria and Cholangiocarcinoma, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand and Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand.
Kesara Na-Bangchang *
Center of Excellence in Pharmacology and Molecular Biology of Malaria and Cholangiocarcinoma, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand, Chulabhorn International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand and Office of Advanced Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency is one of the most prevalent enzymatic disorders worldwide. It carries significant clinical implications, particularly in the management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and the safe administration of oxidative medications in malaria-endemic regions. Accurate and timely detection of G6PD deficiency is therefore essential to minimise the risk of severe, potentially life-threatening hemolytic crises, thereby improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.
This study evaluates the MyG6PD device, a novel quantitative point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic tool that simultaneously assesses haemoglobin concentration and G6PD enzyme activity. The analytical performance of the device was benchmarked against gold-standard laboratory spectrophotometry and the commercially available STANDARD G6PD Analyzer™. MyG6PD exhibited exceptional Linearity (R2 ≥ 0.99), high accuracy (bias < ±15%), and robust precision (CV < 15%) across deficient, intermediate, and normal activity ranges. Crucially, it successfully identified heterozygous females presenting with intermediate phenotypes. MyG6PD demonstrated greater precision and reproducibility in detecting intermediate G6PD phenotypes than the SD Biosensor, enabling clear differentiation between normal and mosaic expression. Furthermore, its lower manufacturing and per-test costs inherently enhance its scalability for global health initiatives. Characterised by a compact, battery-operated architecture, rapid turnaround times, and minimal training requirements, the device is uniquely suited for decentralised, resource-limited environments. Its cost-effective consumables and reliable detection of intermediate G6PD activity underscore its immense potential for large-scale clinical deployment. Ultimately, MyG6PD delivers an accessible, reliable, and clinically actionable screening solution that enables the safer administration of oxidative therapies and improves patient outcomes in high-risk demographic zones. Capable of reliably identifying deficient and intermediate Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency phenotypes, MyG6PD represents a highly feasible and cost-effective intervention to support the safe administration of oxidative therapies and reduce the risk of hemolytic crises among vulnerable populations in resource-limited settings.
Keywords: Point-of-care (PoC) testing, MyG6PD, portable diagnostic device, G6PD deficiency