January 29, 2013

HIV Tests Can Be Conducted Through a Mobile Device

A new mobile device can use a simple finger prick to provide rapid HIV test results that can then be synchronized with patient medical records anywhere in the world, opening opportunities for more widespread testing in resource-poor settings, according to a news report from the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. A research paper published in the AACC’s journal Clinical Chemistry, argues that the mobile device could do more than fight the AIDS epidemic overall. It could also help buffer the extreme economic toll HIV takes on countries where citizens cannot travel to health centers for testing.

The study found that by using blood drawn from a finger prick, the device is able to conduct the same quality of HIV testing found in a lab. Thanks to its ability to provide real-time results, the device could allow researchers and policy makers to better monitor the epidemic. That, in turn, would help them direct medical resources where they are needed.

To read the AACC report, click here.

Search: HIV test, mobile device, rapid results, resource-poor settings, American Association for Clinical Chemistry, AACC.

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Cheryl K, Washington DC, 2013-02-08 15:57:20
What a fabulous advancement for providing timely and less expensive testing alternatives. And the interoperability with electronic health records will help in getting accurate informatino directly into medical histories.