Anemia Meter (Hemoglobin Rapid Test)

• Convenient - self-collected at home or office
• Accurate - the first FDA approved self test

The Anemia Meter is the world’s first single use rapid response Anemia Device! It is a quick, convenient, and accurate way to determine if you are anemic, and it will help you and your health care professional identify and/or monitor your condition.

Understanding Anemia
Three types of cells make up the blood in our bodies, they are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin (Hb), which carries oxygen from the lungs to every cell in the body. Oxygen provides the energy needed by all the body’s muscles and organs. Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells (or the Hb in them) drops below normal levels and can no longer supply the body with the oxygen it needs to function properly.

Anemia, if not treated, can become a very serious condition, even leading to life-threatening complications. When the number of red blood cells in the body decreases, the heart works harder, pumping more blood to send more oxygen throughout the body. If the heart works too hard, it can develop a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and/or another serious condition known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). LVH is an enlargement of the heart muscle that in turn can lead to heart failure.

Symptoms of Anemia
Anemia is one of those conditions that can sometimes be difficult to identify, because in the beginning, the symptoms may be mild. Complicating things even further, sometimes anemia symptoms are mistaken for those of certain diseases or medication side effects. It is quite common for people to either ignore anemia symptoms or attribute them to other causes.

• Major anemia symptoms are:
• Extreme fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of concentration
• Dizziness
• Depression
• Rapid heart beat
• Pale skin

Risk Factors
It is estimated that as many as 20 million Americans are suffering from undiagnosed anemia.

Those at GREATEST risk are people with the following conditions:

• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Diabetes
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Cancer
• Heart Disease
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Additional common risk factors are:

• People over the age of 65
• Recent surgery patients
• People with HIV/AIDS

What causes anemia?
Anemia will occur if the body produces too few red blood cells, loses too many of them, or if red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.

There are nearly 100 different types of anemia with many causes.

The more common causes are:

• A vitamin or iron deficiency
• A serious disease
• Significant blood loss
• Side effects of prescriptions drugs
• Genetic or acquired defects or disease

Is anemia treatable?
Anemia is definitely treatable, but the sooner it is discovered, the better.

The treatment for anemia must be based on its cause. For example, to treat iron deficiency anemia caused by a poor diet, daily iron supplements would probably be prescribed as well as recommendations for a change in the diet. If the iron deficiency was caused by blood loss of one sort or another, medical treatment to prevent further loss would be required.

In the case of vitamin deficiency anemia (vitamin B12 or folic acid), treatment would probably include injections or oral supplements. In addition, after reviewing the patient’s dietary history, the physician might require changes in the diet to aid the vitamin replacements. Changes in certain medications might also be in order.

If the anemia is associated with a chronic disease, monitoring and treatment of the anemia would become part of the physicians overall disease management plan in order to avoid complications.

In severe cases of anemia, drug therapy or even blood transfusions might need to be administered.

Are there different types of anemia?
Because there are so many types of anemia (almost 100), only a qualified physician can determine for sure. Some of the more common types you may have heard of are:

• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin deficiency anemia
• Sickle cell anemia
• Pernicious anemia
• Aplastic anemia
• Hemolytic anemia
• And the list goes on from there.

If your Anemia Meter shows that you are anemic, don't wait! Contact your physician immediately for further evaluation and treatment.

The Testing Procedure
The BIOSAFE Anemia Meter is a hand-held, rapid response blood testing device that accurately checks for blood hemoglobin levels. The test provides you with an accurate, convenient, and inexpensive way to test for possible anemia in the comfort and safety of your home or office.

Low hemoglobin levels are associated with extreme weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, depression, rapid heart beat, and/or pale skin. People over 65, those who have had recent surgery, and HIV/AIDS patients are at increased risk. Additionally, people who have kidney disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or heart disease should check their hemoglobin level regularly.

The specimen collection process is quick, easy and virtually painless. Using the special lancet (included with the BIOSAFE Anemia Meter), one or more drops of blood are taken from a nick of a finger and deposited into the Anemia Meter. A view window indicates when the right amount of blood has been deposited, and a plunger is then pushed to start the testing process. The unit is then set aside. At the end of twenty minutes the window on the meter will give you your result. That’s all there is to it! Quick – Convenient – Accurate.

Your result will be numerical – not just a simple “YES” or “NO”. If your result shows that you may be anemic, you can place the Anemia Meter in the provided plastic envelope and show it to your health care provider.

You may order a BIOSAFE Anemia meter by clicking on the button below. It will be sent to you by first class mail.

Note: An anemia test should be considered only one part of your overall health maintenance program.