CD4 Rapid Test - Cool new technology to monitor HIV

by Alanna Shaikh · 2009-06-11 09:30:00 UTC
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Scientists at the Burnet Institute in Australia have developed the prototype for a new HIV monitoring test that could radically improve patient care in the developing world and the survival of people with AIDS. The test would require only a finger stick, and take only 30 minutes. It would determine the number of CD4+ T-cells in the patient's blood without requiring that it be sent to a lab.

The number of CD4+ T-cells matters because new research has shown that the sooner he/she starts anti-retroviral treatment (ART), the longer the patient survives. However, ART has unpleasant side effects, and should not be started if it's going to be stopped again. There are also obvious cost issues in providing ART to large populations.

All of that makes knowing where to start treatment a delicate calculation. Right now, that calculation is made mainly on patient symptoms, which is inexact at best. T-cell counts are rarely taken into account, because few facilities have the capacity to test them. Since T-cell counts are also the gold standard for knowing when to start treatment for optimal patient benefit, you can see the problem.

You can also see why this test would be so useful. A quick, easy way to know CD4+ numbers could improve the lives of people with HIV. If it's going to do that, though, it will also need to be inexpensive, easy to use and understand, and easily distributed. The Burnet Institute didn't get into all that in their announcement. Time will tell.

Alanna Shaikh
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