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Inherited disorders are written in DNA. Lightening Lives develops REASSURED genetic tests that read it: simple, affordable and usable outside specialised laboratories, so molecular diagnosis can reach the people who need it most.
DNA is written in four letters: A, T, G and C. The strand is built from them.
Scroll to travel along the strand
We develop genetic tests for any inherited condition. The five we have made so far each began with a programme that needed one, and the next place on the strand is open.
REASSURED is a published set of criteria for diagnostics that work in low-resource settings, and developing genetic tests that meet it is what we do best. LitLife™-SCA, our flagship test for sickle cell anaemia, is validated by ICMR.
Genetic tests have traditionally needed large equipment, specialised laboratories and trained staff, so they rarely reach the people who need them most. We design ours the other way round.
A few drops of blood on a card. A dried blood spot is simple and minimally invasive to collect.
No separate DNA extraction step. The workflow is automation-friendly, suits high-throughput screening and needs minimal laboratory infrastructure.
Results come back quickly, and our tests are designed so that reading them doesn't call for specialised training.
The result is genetic testing that is scalable and affordable enough for large public health programmes.
These are the tests we have developed so far. Each began with an institution's requirement, and the next can begin with yours.
Our flagship · Sickle cell anaemia
A simple dried blood spot test for detecting sickle cell anaemia, developed for the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
In India, sickle cell disease is most common among tribal communities. The Government of India launched the Elimination Mission in July 2023, aiming to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2047.
Tell us what your programme needs to screen for. We develop the test, to the same REASSURED standard as the five here.
Tell us what you needCarriers are usually healthy and often unaware of their status. Genetic testing supports carrier screening, diagnosis and family counselling.
Treatments work best when started early, ideally before symptoms appear. Our dried blood spot test is adaptable and affordable for large-scale newborn screening.
Diagnosis often comes late. An earlier genetic diagnosis allows timely care, and lets families find out whether relatives are carriers.
In bleeding disorders such as haemophilia, genetic testing confirms the diagnosis, identifies carriers and supports family counselling and care planning.
REASSURED is a published set of criteria for diagnostic tests that work in low-resource settings. Developing genetic tests that meet it is what we do best.
Results can be read or shared digitally with decision-makers.
Samples are simple and minimally invasive to collect.
Affordable for the people tested and for the health system.
Few false negatives.
Few false positives.
Simple to perform, with minimal training.
Quick results; tests survive transport and storage without special conditions.
No special equipment, or only simple devices.
Reaches the people who need it most.
SourceLand et al., Nature Microbiology (2019). REASSURED updates the earlier ASSURED criteria from the World Health Organization's tropical disease research programme.
Tests are supplied in bulk to institutions and government programmes. We don't test individuals.
Genetic tests for inherited conditions, designed to need minimal laboratory infrastructure and to suit an automated workflow.
Tests developed for national health programmes, for screening whole populations.
A technology partner for large, population-level screening.
A result helps only when people understand it. We run awareness and counselling programmes, mostly on behalf of the government: explaining inherited conditions and screening to communities, and helping families understand results and carrier status.
Looking for a test for yourself or your family? We supply institutions only. Please speak to your doctor or visit your nearest government health facility.
Choose where you would like to begin. Each option opens an email to our team.
Write or calladmin@lighteninglives.in+91 91825 88191
Order details are discussed per request, based on your institutional or regulatory requirements.