Rapid HIV test kits to reduce window period

By VERONICA KIRIGO

A new high-tech rapid HIV and Aids test kit and point of care cluster of differentiation (CD4) has been unveiled in the country making early diagnosis of the virus possible.

Called Alere Determine combo Antigen (Ag) or Antibody (Ab) test kit and the Alere pima CD4, it promises accurate diagnosis in rapid time.

Alere Healthcare Global Product Manager, Amy Yorston said the Alere Pima CD4 enables CD4 T-cell analysis at point-of-care from a finger stick or a whole-blood sample in 20 minutes.

“The Alere Pima CD4 provides an effective and affordable tool in the management of HIV patients, specifically designed to serve the needs of the health care professional in the field, laboratory or in the doctor’s office,” said Yorston.

Yorston explained that diagnosis of HIV during the window period — early infection stage, has not been possible, hence delaying intervention.

However, she explained that using the new test kit will enable health workers identify HIV shortly after a person gets infected.

Usually, people are told to get tested after three months of having unprotected sex and then wait for a similar duration of time that is the window period for confirmation.

But this new gadget, promises to be a game changer, as it can capture the virus at an early stage, hence eliminating the window period.
Yorston said this would ensure that the spread of new infections is averted, as people are aware of their status.

Research has shown that about 54 to 70 per cent of individuals are newly-infected by the 25 per cent of those who are unaware of their HIV infection.

Antibody tests
Currently, studies show that available antibody tests miss 10.5 per cent of HIV infections in some high-risk populations because they don’t detect antigens.

The pima technology is a revolutionary point-of-care solution that can provide an absolute CD4 count to HIV infected patients in remote locations, who may otherwise have restricted access to testing. This is because majority of the remote areas have no electricity or proper infrastructure.

“The implications of providing accurate information leads to individuals being empowered to monitor their own HIV drug therapy to make sure it is working or seek medical intervention if a problem arises,” said Tom Lindsay, Alere Healthcare Business Development Director – Africa.

Lindsay noted that the rapid point-of-care test detects both HIV 1/2 antibodies and the HIV-1 antigen, which can appear 12 to 26 days after infection.

“It will help health care providers break the infection cycle by screening for acute HIV infection earlier than the traditional third generation HIV antibody tests,” said Lindsay.

A representative of Centre for Disease Control – Kisumu, Clement Zeh said the two technologies both the combo and the pima is an added advantage in the fight against HIV and Aids.

The Alere Pima CD4 and the Determine Combo have been validated in Kenya by the National HIV reference laboratory and Kenya Medical Research Institute incollaboration with the Clinton Foundation.