K J Somaiya Hospital & Research Centre has announced the development of three rapid diagnostic tests capable of detecting and monitoring haemophilia within 5 to 10 minutes, marking a significant step toward addressing long-standing gaps in diagnosis across India.

Unveiled on the occasion of World Haemophilia Day, the innovation aims to tackle a critical challenge: while around 26,000 haemophilia patients are registered in India, the actual number is estimated to be close to 1,00,000, leaving nearly three out of four individuals undiagnosed.

The newly developed solutions include a rapid test for Factor VIII inhibitors, a latex agglutination-based test for Factor VIII antibodies, and a point-of-care test to measure emicizumab drug levels.

These tests are designed to deliver results in 10–15 minutes at a cost of Rs 100–Rs 150, compared to conventional diagnostics that can take 4 to 6 hours and cost up to Rs 15,000, often requiring specialised laboratory infrastructure.

Beyond speed and affordability, the impact is expected to be deeply clinical and social—enabling faster decision-making, reducing complications, and expanding access to diagnosis from tertiary hospitals to primary health centres.

Samir Somaiya, Chairman of K J Somaiya Medical Trust, emphasized the broader vision behind the initiative, noting that good health remains the most important outcome. He highlighted that Somaiya Ayurvihar has been envisioned as a hub for life-centric care, where innovation in cancer and blood disorder treatment—including haemophilia—continues to evolve through integrated clinical and research efforts.

The scientific foundation of the tests is equally strong. One of the point-of-care diagnostics has demonstrated a sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 99%, and has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The research is supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with all three tests currently under provisional patent applications.

For a condition where 25–30% of patients develop inhibitors that complicate treatment, early and accurate detection is critical to improving outcomes.

Manisha Bobade, CEO of the hospital, said, “The establishment of the Haematology Department and the Bone Marrow Transplant unit at K J Somaiya Hospital has been a defining step. Our vision has always been to build a centre that can diagnose, treat, research, and innovate—all under one roof.”

Highlighting systemic gaps in diagnostics infrastructure, Shrimati Shetty, Director – Laboratory Haematology & Clinical Research, added, “There is an acute shortage of coagulation laboratories in the country. A comprehensive laboratory should be able to diagnose not only haemophilia but all types of bleeding disorders. Yet, maintaining such infrastructure—from ultracold storage to quality control—is complex. Innovations like these rapid diagnostics have the potential to transform access, bringing timely and reliable testing closer to patients.”