In first, Chhattisgarh to implement PCT technique for sickling test

For the first time in India, Chhattisgarh is going to implement the ‘Point of Care Test’ (PCT) technique to detect sickle cell anaemia in patients at villages and small health centres.

Raipur: In a bid to boost health care facilities among the people of the state, Chhattisgarh government is going to implement the 'Point of Care Test' (PCT) technique to detect sickle cell anaemia in patients at villages and small health centres.

It is pertinent to be mentioned here that Chhattisgarh has become the first state in the country to implement the PCT technique for the health sector.

According to state ministry officials, Health Minister T.S. Singh Deo on Friday launched the scheme. The point of care test technique is being implemented on a pilot project basis in five districts including Durg, Surguja, Dantewada, Korba and Mahasamund.

The sickling test kit will be supplied by ICMR’s ‘National Institute of Immunohaematology’. The training for using the kit will be provided to health workers within one month, officials said.

Doctors also said that PCT technique would take at least a day and it is portable as its kit can be easily carried anywhere. Like the malaria kit, the result of this test would come within 10 minutes.

So far, the sickling test was available only in big hospitals and cities. With a point of care test which is recognized by national and international scientific institutions, the sickling test will be conducted at the village level, officials added.