Rheonix Inc. has received a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue developing a fully automated, rapid HIV test that can detect both antibodies to HIV and actual viral RNA, according to a Rheonix press release.

Such tests would be particularly useful in developing countries. As Richard Montagna, PhD, senior vice president for scientific and clinical affairs at Rheonix, explained in the press release: “Being able to provide such a fully automated testing platform will allow resource-limited regions of the world to have their first-ever opportunity to perform simultaneous serological testing and molecular confirmation for HIV.”

The new test uses existing Rheonix technology. To test for HIV, a “raw sample” is placed on a Rheonix card; an automated platform then runs the test without any help from a user. This streamlines the process and eliminates the cost and the need for multiple pieces of equipment.

The NIH’s Small Business Innovation Research grant will go toward Phase II studies of the test. Based in Ithaca, New York, Rheonix specializes in creating molecular diagnostic tests.