Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase screening utilising a commercial kit

Abstract

A simple G6PD screening test kit (the B.M. Test Kit) is evaluated as to its accuracy and applicability in S.E. Asia where G6PD deficiency is common and produces kernicterus due to neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. The Kit was tested against the proved modified Bernstein's method which has been used in more than one quarter million patients in Singapore. It was found that the Kit was as reliable as the modified Bernstein's screening procedure. It is recommended that with such a simple and effective screening kit, as many newborns as possible in S.E. Asia should be screened for G6PD deficiency, as this will identify babies and families at risk, so that preventive measures can be taken to prevent brain and kidney damage.