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APL is a Rare, Aggressive Leukemia: Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) is a rare subtype of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), accounting for 10-15% of AML cases. It’s characterized by abnormal white blood cell formation due to a genetic mutation (PML-RARA gene fusion).
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Dangerous Bleeding Risk: APL can cause sudden and severe internal bleeding, potentially fatal if untreated.
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High Curability with Early Treatment: APL is highly curable if diagnosed and treated early with treatments like all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide.
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New Rapid Diagnostic Test (RAPID-CRISPR): A new CRISPR-based test, RAPID-CRISPR, has been developed for faster and more accessible APL diagnosis.
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Current Tests are Slow and Complex: Existing diagnostic tests are time-consuming, require specialized equipment, and trained personnel, limiting accessibility.
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RAPID-CRISPR Advantages:
- Provides results in under 3 hours.
- More affordable than existing tests.
- Doesn’t require complex lab equipment.
- Nearly 100% sensitivity and specificity.
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How RAPID-CRISPR Works: Detects the PML-RARA gene mutation in a blood sample and triggers a signal detected by a simple strip, similar to a home pregnancy test.
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Potential for Widespread Use: RAPID-CRISPR can bridge the gap in diagnosis in resource-limited settings, enabling timely treatment. The goal is to make it a standard tool in hospitals worldwide and, potentially, for at-home testing.
