Improving postpartum hemorrhage diagnosis in low-resource settings: development and verification of Quantavag, a...

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings globally. In Ghana, PPH accounts for approximately 27% of maternal deaths, driven by inaccurate or inaccessible blood loss quantification methods. To address this gap, we developed and verified Quantavag, a novel device designed to accurately measure uterine blood loss for timely PPH diagnosis and treatment in low-resource settings.

We conducted 45 customer discovery interviews with healthcare professionals, midwives, and patients in Ghana and the United States to identify clinical needs and define device requirements. Benchtop verification testing was conducted using 3D-printed prototypes and anatomical models to assess anatomical fit, stability, flow rate capacity, collection accuracy, and cost.

Verification testing confirmed that Quantavag fits securely within a postpartum pelvic model and remained stable during simulated movement. Using water, the device achieved mean fluid collection accuracy exceeding 80% across 100-500 mL input volumes. The device collected water at an average rate of 87,849 mL/hour, far exceeding clinical PPH flow requirements. Estimated per-use cost was $1.50 (16 Ghanaian Cedis).

These early benchtop findings support continued development of Quantavag as a potential approach to support timely PPH diagnosis in low resource settings by enabling accurate, objective, and affordable blood loss quantification. Additional benchtop testing is required to evaluate device performance with blood-mimicking fluid and clots, and address flow interruptions and accuracy during collection. The next phase will involve clinical validation tests with health care professionals and patients in Ghana to assess usability and safety and guide further development. Successful implementation of Quantavag could reduce delayed PPH diagnosis and improve maternal outcomes globally.