IIT Mandi's researchers develop novel test to detect early signs of kidney damage

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi's researchers have developed a novel system that can detect early signs of kidney damage by measuring even low levels of a protein marker in urine and blood samples.

The test detects the presence of protein albumin in urine and blood. It can be served as an early indicator of various health disorders like renal dysfunction as well as diseases that result from diabetes. 

Currently, dipstick tests are available in the market for detecting albumin in urine.

Shubhajit Roy Chowdhury, an Assistant Professor at Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, said, "The urine dipsticks available in the market can correctly estimate albumin concentration in urine up to 30 microgrammes per decilitre (mg/dL), whereas with our technique one can measure levels as low as 3.3 mg/dL."

"The dye, which we developed at IIT Mandi, binds with the albumin molecules in the urine. This composite then absorbs near infra-red (NIR) radiation of 740-nanometre wavelength, and emits radiation at 806-nanometre wavelength," he further added. 

The project is jointly funded by Ministry of Human Resource Development and Indian Council of Medical Research. It will help in detecting many health disorders in premature phase.