A test capable of detecting HIV early using more efficient, robust methods has been developed by researchers at Imperial.
The test in question could also be adapted to be used in other infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika.

In recent years, diseases such as Ebola and Zika have caused wide-scale devastation, and HIV continues to be a pandemic health threat for many. The problem is particularly prominent in developing countries, where infectious diseases often go undetected for long periods of time, resulting in widespread epidemics.

To manage infectious disease outbreaks more effectively, vast efforts are being made to create tests that allow for early diagnosis. Currently, cheap point-of-care methods employed to detect infectious diseases have their limitations, particularly when it comes to detecting very low levels of markers in the blood.

Now, Imperial researchers, alongside their collaborators at University College London as part of the i-sense program, have developed a new diagnostic tool for HIV that is affordable, capable of withstanding harsh conditions and highly sensitive, making the early detection of the disease possible.

Image Credit:  Imperial College London

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