Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd.

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...

Do you remember the Bollywood movie that highlights how the main protagonist’s world turns upside down when she is tested HIV positive? Not surprisingly, the movie wasn’t a box-office success for treading the forbidden path. HIV and AIDS still continue to be shadowed by societal stigma. This World AIDS Day, Transasia does a reality check on the prevalence of the infection and re-emphasizes the need for early diagnosis. HIV and AIDS Most people confuse HIV and AIDS. While HIV is the virus that attacks the immune system; AIDS, also known as late stage HIV, is a set of symptoms that are manifested due to an immune system seriously damaged by HIV. Though there is no cure for HIV, early diagnosis can aid in timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy that can stop the virus from damaging the immune system. An HIV patient who has received timely treatment can live a normal and long life without progressing to late stage HIV. Arresting the infection early on! H...

29th September is celebrated as World Heart Day, a day when healthcare professionals the world over draw attention to the most important organ of the body. We too can do our bit to raise awareness of the possible warning indicators. Read on…  It’s 29th September, and you wake up to your daily newspaper endorsing the ‘healthiest’ heart oil brand; your office conducts activities that ensure that you have a ‘healthy heart’; you are inundated with promo SMS’s offering you an attractive discount on health check-up packages; or your neighbourhood gym hounds you to sign-up for a membership. While every other person can give you information overload on the do’s and dont’s for a healthy heart, as India’s leading IVD Company, we thought it would be a good idea to let you know what we are best at; giving you solutions for the early diagnosis to prevent heart disease. It’s all in the blood! Without underplaying the importance of a healthy lifestyle, we would like to bring t...

The National Digital Health Blueprint, recently introduced by the Government, is a call for attention on the optimum use of data and analytics for a healthier India. With the aim of creating a digital health ecosystem based on international standards, the Government intends to build on the core digital health data of its citizens and the infrastructure required for its seamless exchange.   A typical scene at the OPD of any hospital is of the patients waiting for their turn with a file of health records. What becomes important is to ensure that all previous health records are carried by the patient. Or imagine another situation where a patient is brought into the emergency ward and the relatives don’t know about the exact past history or the allergies of the patient. Now imagine that in either of these two situations, you just provide an identification number and your treating doctor gets an access to your past health history, all at the click of a button. That is ex...

Say blood transmitted disease and the first name that comes to mind is HIV infection. But did you know that 9 times more people are infected with Hepatitis than HIV? 28th July every year is recognized as World Hepatitis Day, in an effort to create awareness to eradicate the deadly virus by 2030. The second major infectious disease after tuberculosis, Hepatitis affects 325 million people worldwide, claiming 4,000 lives a day! What is ironical is that 290 of these 325 million people are unaware of their infection!* That's the story of the missing millions.. Not just globally, hepatitis is a severe health challenge in India as well. According to a 2017 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Translational Hepatology, India has a disease burden of about 50 mn; second only to China; with a prevalence of 2-7%.** Hepatitis B infection shows no symptoms Of the five strains A,B,C,D and E of the Hepatitis virus, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is 50-100 times more infectio...

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...

The provision of safe and efficacious blood and blood components for transfusion involves a number of processes and there is a risk of error in each process of this ‘transfusion chain’. A failure at any of the stages can have serious implications for the recipients of blood and blood components. Thus, while blood transfusion can be life-saving, there are associated risks, particularly the transmission of blood-borne infections. The core Transfusion Transmitted Infections (TTI) tests recommended by WHO are; Hepatitis B Surface antigen, antibody to Hepatitis C, HIV 1 & 2, and serologic test for Syphilis. In India, besides these core tests, donated blood is also mandatorily tested for Malaria antigen. Speaking particularly about Syphilis, it was once a common STD, however the prevalence was brought down from 8% of the population, to less than 1%. Infact, in 2011, the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) , had announced that the country is on the verge of eliminatio...