Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd.

  Early on researchers had observed the complications of abnormal blood clotting in COVID-19 patients.  D Dimer, a coagulation marker, is playing an important role in early identification of complications caused due to blood clotting and thus aiding in treatment of severe COVID-19 cases. How blood clots are proving to be fatal in COVID-19 Early on, while doctors were still trying to understand COVID-19, signs of blood clotting were being detected in different organs. Nephorologists were noticing dialysis catheters getting plugged with clots. Neurosurgeons were witnessing a surge in patients with strokes.  “Researchers have found stroke rate to be seven times higher in patients with severe COVID-19 than those with severe seasonal flu(1).” Evolving clinical resources confirm a convoluted role of abnormal blood clotting in COVID-19 that manifests in the form of both micro thrombosis (formation of small blood clots) and venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE is a condition when a ...

“When the going gets tough, the tough gets going”, a famous adage that makes more sense now than even before! While each of us has our own unique stories to tell from the lockdown, we present to you experiences of our very own frontline heroes, who lived up to Transasia’s vision of a Healthier India! This is not a narrative from a Bollywood movie, of an actor fighting all odds to win over his love, or a sci-fi flick of a superhero saving the world from ETs. These are true experiences of grit and determination, of working with your heart, to give it all you have for a healthier nation! While the COVID pandemic and ensuing lockdown left most with no choice but to work from home, there were some for whom it did not matter whether an area was declared a containment zone or a hotspot. What mattered for these great heroes was that they are the face of India’s leading In-vitro Diagnostic Company, and providers of essential diagnostic services. So, while India came to a standstill, it was co...

It is interesting to know how a routine blood test can give the clinician a plethora of information! Pathologists the world over are relying on various hematology parameters for severity assessment of COVID-19. Renowned scientific and clinical publications have now concluded that various biochemistry and hematology parameters play an essential role in the early detection, prognosis and management of COVID-19. Significant reduction in absolute Lymphocyte count and Hemoglobin, is associated with the increase in total WBC count, absolute Neutrophil count, ESR, Prothrombin Time, D-Dimer, C-Reactive Protein and Pro-calcitonin. Additionally, various routine biochemical parameters also get deranged and signify the severity and poor prognosis. These lab findings, especially elevated Ferritin levels, suggest an imminent ‘Cytokine Storm’ which might lead to complications like Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Pneumonia and Multi-organ Failure (MOD). Elevated troponins & CK-MB signi...

Whoever thought that a simple sneeze can grip the attention of the whole world and ‘Corona’ would garner more attention as a deadly virus rather than the amber, scintillating aura that surrounds the sun? As India’s leading diagnostic manufacturer, we have always been at the forefront for raising our concerns on imports, be it from China or the rest of the world. Today, yet again, we raise our concerns, this time to curb yet another import, that of the Corona virus. The world will remember the year that was (2019), for reasons more than one, especially the end of an eventful decade of tremendous change and development globally! But the start of the new decade has challenged the global health machinery, with the rampant spread of the Corona virus. Christened COVID-19 by WHO, the deadly virus, which originated in China, has so far claimed over 3200 lives and infected more than 90,000 people worldwide! While medical experts are working round-the-clock to develop a vacc...

It’s that time of the year when India Inc. puts forth their suggestions and expectations from the Government in allocating policies and budgets for the year that will be, and healthcare is no exception. The Indian healthcare industry is on a progressive track and the diagnostic industry in particular is expected to steadily grow at a CAGR of 13-14% through 2020. Having said that, the industry looks forward to crucial government reforms that will help achieve these numbers. While technology is expected to continue to make in-roads, I reiterate that affordability and accessibility of healthcare need to take centre-stage. I am hoping that a major focus in the Union Budget 2020 will be given to the diagnostic industry, as it is the starting point to building a Healthy and Happy India. Hard reality of the USD 7 bn Indian medical device industry is that imports still constitute to 72-80%. While Make in India continues to remain the central focus for the government, as an Indi...

We often tend to compare the prices of the diagnostic tests, prescribed by Doctor. This article is intended to convey something as complex as the diagnostic ecosystem and end user pricing in as simple a manner as possible. There are quick reactions when information about raw material pricing of diagnostics are shared in media reports comparing it to the price an end user pays for the same. Nothing can be farther from the truth, as pricing of tests by labs and hospitals are influenced by multiple factors which tend to vary significantly. Like with most services, there will be a huge variation depending on the location and other factors. It is important to raise this awareness and correct the misconception of the general public. I am listing most of the factors (not all and by no means exhaustive) that are behind the price variation in diagnostic tests across locations in India: Location - Real estate costs vary hugely across India and these variations are significant...

Did you know the prevalence of Sickle Cell Anemia in India is the second largest worldwide? On the occasion of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, we give you an insight into this hereditary disorder that is a growing concern for the country. Rahul, a six year old, from a remote area in Chattisgarh, often misses school.+ Vikram a young, 22 year old boy from Gujarat recently grabbed a lucrative offer at one of the MNCs. However, he had to soon quit. + Rahul and Vikram are both related, not by blood, but by a blood disorder - Sickle Cell Disease. A group of inherited disorders affecting the hemoglobin, sickle cell disease, can cause severe and life-threatening consequences, such as anemia, infections, stroke, tissue damage, organ failure, intense painful episodes and premature death. A chronic disorder of global health importance, ironically, sickle cell disease, is often neglected. India is estimated to have the second highest burden of the disease in the world, a fa...

Though there are several positives, when you view the fine print, the proposed policy initiatives are a far cry from creating an attractive environment for the domestic production of medical devices as well as catalyzing R&D. As a member of the healthcare industry I am happy that through the interim budget, the Government has announced its intent to continue to focus on building a healthier India. The healthcare sector has got a boost with nearly 13% hike in the health budget, the highest in the last two financial years. An allocation of Rs. 6400 crores towards Ayushman Bharat, commissioning of the 22nd AIIMS centre and setting up of health and wellness centres, are all positive moves that are set to bring in a new wave of health transformation especially for the lower and middle class families. Artificial Intelligence - harnessing the benefits of new age technology The announcement to set up a National Artificial Intelligence portal will lay further emphasis on techn...

The liver is the powerhouse for the process of blood clotting (hemostasis). Any damage to the liver, can affect the coagulation process, leading to further complications. It is thus important to choose an accurate testing kit that evaluates the changes to the coagulation markers and thus gives an indication of the severity of liver disease.  Coagulation and fibrinolytic factors are universal indicators for detecting a liver impairment, the most accurate one being Prothrombin Time (PT). So, obviously it is critical to ensure that PT is evaluated with a quality diagnostic kit to ensure accuracy of reporting.  Criteria such as good ISI and precision in control (on a day-to-day basis), high linearity and correlation with reference reagents are essential while choosing a kit.  The Erba Protime LS from Transasia Bio-Medicals is a liquid stable, standardized, rabbit brain thromboplastin reagent with an excellent <1% CV and high linearity on serial dilution. Whe...

Digital transformation of a diagnostic lab enables one to allow efficient management of the inventory and better anticipate maintenance needs of the instruments. Think about it! In any business, what is the role of technology and how does it help? In simple words, it is one of the problem-solving tools that helps resolve a business problem faster and effectively. With an increasing focus on offering value-added services, manufacturers are adopting rapidly evolving technologies such as IoT or Internet of Things, to meet the huge demand for fully automated products and services. IoT applications are being used across all verticals of business and healthcare is no exception. In fact, IoT has brought in a lot of ‘convenience’ to the healthcare ecosystem. A research has projected that by 2019, 87% global healthcare organizations will have adopted IoT technology. Speaking specifically of the medical devices segment, IoT has brought about digital transformation to a lab work...