New Rapid Test Detects Acute HIV Infection Earlier

Inverness Medical has launched the first rapid HIV test for both antigen and antibody, detecting HIV infection several days earlier than antibody-only tests. Quick and easy to use in any point of care situation, the Determine HIV 1/2 Antigen-Antibody Test enables the identification of acute HIV infections prior to the development of antibodies.

The 'Combo' test simultaneously detects HIV p24 antigen and antibodies for both HIV-1 and HIV-2 in serum, plasma or whole blood. Produced during the first few weeks of infection the p24 antigen is an ideal marker for early HIV diagnosis, allowing healthcare workers to differentiate between acute and chronic infection. Improved diagnosis will allow earlier intervention and reduce onward transmission.

The 'Combo' tests are simple to perform and provide results in just 20 minutes. And with no need for equipment or refrigeration the kits are easy to transport and store. Minimal training is required and the tests can be performed on finger prick samples of whole blood, serum or plasma, providing fast, accurate and reliable results in any environment.

With a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of >99%, the performance of Determine HIV Combo is comparable to the 4th generation lab-based enzyme immunoassay tests traditionally used for screening.