Sat Apr 05 17:30:00 UTC 2025: ## New CRISPR-Based Test Offers Rapid, Affordable Diagnosis of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia

**Mumbai, India** – A team of researchers at the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), Tata Memorial Hospital, has developed a groundbreaking new test for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a rare but aggressive form of blood cancer. The test, called RAPID-CRISPR, utilizes CRISPR technology to detect the PML-RARA gene mutation responsible for APL in under three hours.

APL, which accounts for 10-15% of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases, is often fatal if not treated promptly due to its potential for severe internal bleeding. Current diagnostic methods are time-consuming, expensive, and require specialized equipment and personnel, limiting access, particularly in smaller hospitals and developing countries.

RAPID-CRISPR overcomes these limitations. The test uses a simple process that directly analyzes patient blood samples, requiring no complex laboratory setup or highly trained staff. Results are displayed on a strip similar to a home pregnancy test, allowing for quick interpretation and immediate treatment. The researchers tested RAPID-CRISPR on 134 clinical samples, achieving 100% accuracy, and demonstrating ten times greater sensitivity than the current gold-standard test.

“Many hospitals in developing countries lack resources for complex genetic testing, resulting in delayed diagnosis and preventable deaths,” explains Professor Syed K. Hasan of ACTREC. “RAPID-CRISPR bridges this gap, making life-saving treatment accessible to more patients.”

While currently utilizing three strips for different PML-RARA isoforms, the team is working to optimize the test for a single-strip detection. The researchers hope that future development could even enable at-home testing. The study, supported by the Department of Atomic Energy, was published in *Blood Advances*.

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