# Accuracy and Feasibility of Non-Invasive Anemia Screening Assistant (ASIST) Device in Resource-Limited Settings

> **NIH NIH R21** · UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH · 2024 · $192,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
Validation and Feasibility Non-Invasive Anemia Diagnostic Tool (ASIST Device)
This project will establish the accuracy and feasibility of our novel non-invasive, portable, low-
cost device to diagnose chronic nutritional and hemolytic anemia in resource poor areas. This
device has the potential to mitigate the prevalence of anemia in LMICs, improving health
outcomes, especially in pregnant women and adolescent girls.
Despite increased attention from the WHO, anemia continues to be a formidable public health
issue affecting a third of the world's population, with much of the disease burden in low- and
middle- income countries (LMICs). Pregnant women and young children are the most vulnerable
of these populations. Severe anemia in pregnancy contributes significantly to preventable
morbidity and mortality both during pregnancy and in the delivery process. For the fetus of an
anemic mother, there are long-term neurodevelopmental consequences.
In resource-rich countries, anemia can be diagnosed using minimally invasive point of care
devices and nutritional and hemolytic causes can be differentiated without invasive testing using
exhaled Carbon Monoxide, a breakdown product of hemoglobin. In low- and middle-income
countries (LMICs), where this type of testing is not readily available, the diagnosis of anemia is
often inaccurate or missed all together. Based on the global burden of anemia, especially in
LMICs, there is a need for a low-cost device that can non-invasively detect anemia and help to
distinguish between nutritional and hemolytic causes to inform clinical decision making.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10912427
- **Project number:** 5R21HD110817-02
- **Recipient organization:** UTAH STATE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM--UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
- **Principal Investigator:** Allison Judkins
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $192,500
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10912427

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10912427, Accuracy and Feasibility of Non-Invasive Anemia Screening Assistant (ASIST) Device in Resource-Limited Settings (5R21HD110817-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10912427. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*