VISITECT® CD4: Difference between revisions

Medical equipment data

Problem being addressed

High rates of HIV infection in the developing world hinders improvements in maternal mortality and also contributes to poor perinatal health outcomes such as stillbirth, preterm birth, and low birth weight. HIV infection of infants and HIV-related maternal deaths are largely due to the delayed initiation of antiretroviral interventions. In addition to mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus, HIV still remains widespread in low-resource settings.

Detailed description of the solution

The VISITECT® CD4 enables CD4+ T-cell levels to be determined quickly and conveniently through a finger prick sample. The tests itself only costs US $2, does not require any instrumentation or electricity, and takes forty minutes to yield the results. By assessing CDF count at the first antenatal visit using VISITECT® CD4, pregnant women undergoing the test can receive same day initiation of the most appropriate lifesaving antiretroviral intervention. Administrating antiretroviral intervention early on in the pregnancy not only will benefit the mother’s health but will help prevent mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus, significantly reducing maternal and infant deaths.

Designed by

• Designed by:David Anderson from Burnet Institute
• Manufacturer (if different):
• Manufacturer location:Australia

When and where it was tested/implemented

Papua New Guinea, Kenya, South Africa

Funding Source

Finalist of Saving Lives at Birth Competition

References

Peer-reviewed publication

Other internally generated reports

Parish, T. (July 18, 2012). Project nominated for "Saving Lives at Birth" award. Retrieved from http://www.burnet.edu.au/news/140_project_nominated_for_saving_lives_at_birth_award

Parish, T. (July 26, 2012). Six years in the making: Cd4 test officially launched!. Retrieved from http://www.burnet.edu.au/news/149_six_years_in_the_making_cd4_test_officially_launched

VISITECT® CD4. Retrieved from http://www.omegadiagnostics.com/cd4/

Externally generated reports

Performance of an innovative, instrument-free, low-cost, rapid point-of-care cd4 test for accelerating initiation of antiretroviral interventions for HIV 1-infected pregnant women in resource-constrained settings. (August 06, 2012). Retrieved from http://savinglivesatbirth.net/summaries/191

IP and copyright

Approval by regulatory bodies or standards boards