Saint Louis University (SLU)
Development and implementation of diagnostic laboratory techniques and the associated treatment interventions for patients in developing countries, with an emphasis in the country of Haiti. Diagnostic laboratory tests must overcome the barriers encountered in Haiti to include cost, technical complexity, and in some cases even electricity. A diagnostic test for sickle cell anemia has been developed in our lab that differentiates heterozygotes from homozygotes and can be performed quantitatively when electricity is available and qualitatively when electricity is absent. Other test methods currently under development include HbC, bilirubin, and general anemia.