Durham, N.C. – (May 7, 2020) – Baebies, a growth-stage company developing diagnostic products to provide a healthy start for children everywhere, announced today the submission of FINDER G6PD to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FINDER™, a near-patient testing platform, includes a toaster-sized instrument and a disposable cartridge, which tests for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) from low blood volume (50 µL) with a turn-around time of approximately 15 minutes after sample introduction.
G6PD deficiency is the most common enzyme deficiency worldwide, affecting approximately 400 million people. Hemolytic anemia is the most common clinical symptom associated with G6PD deficiency that is most often triggered by bacterial or viral infections, antibiotics and drugs including those that are used to treat malaria, and foods such as fava beans. Hemolytic anemia can lead to jaundice, shortness of breath, and rapid heart rate.
Richard West, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Baebies commented, “With the submission of FINDER G6PD to the FDA, Baebies takes an important step forward in support of our mission. This is the first of many tests to come on the FINDER platform, which will fully exploit the flexibility of digital microfluidic technology. We look forward to continued communication with the agency through the review process.”
FINDER received CE Mark in December 2019 as an In Vitro Diagnostic device (IVD) and is commercially available in Europe and other countries that recognize CE Mark. FINDER is not currently for sale in the United States.