New screening tool for anemia

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - Screening for anemia just got easier and it does not involve a needle.

Beckii Plocher is coming in for a yearly anemia screening.

"Family history of it and also I'm very fatigue and tired and they just want to make sure my iron levels are okay."

She has battled anemia since high school.

"Sometimes depending on what I eat or what I do, it can be high, it can be low, it can be average."

Dr. Neville Graham is an OB-GYN at Women's Comprehensive Health Care in Hartford.

"Anemia is basically where an individual's red blood cell count is running low and that is maybe due to poor production of red blood cells or loss of red blood cells through bleeding or poor nourishment."

Dr. Graham is among a growing number of physicians turning to a non-invasive blood screening for anemia.

He explains to Beckii that, "It's really simple, it will give us an accurate reading of your iron count and hemoglobin."

This high tech alternative is a far cry from getting blood drawn or a prick on the finger.

Beckii says, "I don't always bleed so if I don't bleed enough, they have to do it again and can be painful."

Dr. Graham explains, "It's reading through the nail bed your hemoglobin level, it also can print out your oxygenation level of you red blood through your natural breathing and it does enable us to interpret pulse rates."

The high accuracy rate and instantaneous results are a big plus for both doctor and patient.

"Of course in our pregnant population," says Dr. Graham, "Its so important to know if these patients are anemic and the degree of anemic because that has a direct affect on the well being of that pregnancy."

A normal reading for Beckii during this office visit.

She says. "So those multi-vitamins are working."

Dr. Graham replies, "They're working very well."

He adds that anemia can lead to light headed dizziness, some neurological related issues and can affect blood pressure.