{"id":39319,"key":"Global_Health_Medical_Device_Compendium/PointCare_NOW_Machine","title":"Global Health Medical Device Compendium/PointCare NOW Machine","latest":{"id":1267686,"timestamp":"2026-09-10T14:09:31Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Pointcare now.png|thumb]]\n\n{{GHMDC device data\n| health-topic = HIV/AIDS\n| classification = Diagnosis\n| scope = Commercialized\n| made = No\n| replicated = No\n| manufacturer-location = Massachusetts, United States\n}}\n\nFor people living with HIV, the presence of the virus can be detected through a CD4 cells, which are cells that fight infection. In general as HIV progresses, CD4 cells go down which is indicative of a weakening immune system. For HIV-infected patients, a CD4 count should be administered before anti-retroviral therapies begin. However, modern technology for CD4 counting is not easily accessible throughout the developing world. Current technology, such as the flow-cytometry CD4 counter, range from US$30,000–$150,000 which is beyond the affordability for health systems with financial constraints.\n\n== Detailed description of the solution ==\n\nThe PointCare NOW machine is a portable blood-testing device that counts CD4 positive T cells and may help detect the presence of opportunistic infections in HIV patients. It is compact and designed to cope with the demands of remote locations. This device gives diagnostic results within minutes at the point-of-care, enabling immediate counseling and care by the physician. The product has a lifetime of 180,000 days,{{Verification needed}} uses little power, and it can store thousands of patient records with a USB memory stick.\n\n== Designed by ==\n\n* Designed by: PointCare Technologies, Inc.\n* Headquarters: Malborough, Massachusetts, USA. Field staff teams are also located in several places in Africa.\n\n== When and where it was implemented ==\n\nThis device is currently being used by the medical personnel of the Bwindi Community Hospital in Uganda. The equipment is taken to remote areas to provide health care to thousands of people. Before the equipment, patients usually walked long distances to the hospital.\n\n== References ==\n\n== Peer-reviewed publications ==\n\nBoyle, D. S., Hawkins, K. R., Steele, M. S., Singhal, M., & Cheng, X. (2012, January). Emerging technologies for point-of-care CD4 T-lymphocyte counting. Trends in Biotechnology, 30(1), 45-54. PDF available [http://pdn.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=MiamiImageURL&_cid=271201&_user=99318&_pii=S0167779911001193&_check=y&_origin=article&_zone=toolbar&_coverDate=31-Jan-2012&view=c&originContentFamily=serial&wchp=dGLzVlk-zSkzV&md5=b2e91b8ef7511e31cae2e226a94ed734/1-s2.0-S0167779911001193-main.pdf here]\n\nMandy, F., Janossy, G., Bergeron, M., Pilon, R., & Faucher, S. (2008, Feb. 28). Affordable CD4 T-cell enumeration for resource-limited regions: A status report for 2008. Y\nCytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry, 74B, S27-S39. doi: 10.1002/cyto.b.20414. Link available [http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cyto.b.20414/pdf here]\n\n== Internally generated reports ==\n\nPointCare. (n.d.) Main website can be found [http://www.pointcare.net/ here].\n\nPointCare. (n.d.). PointCare Now: For Near Patient HIV Monitoring [Brochure]. Link available [http://www.omsj.org/tests/pointcare.pdf here]\n\nPointCare. (n.d.). PointCare Now. Link available [http://www.pointcare.net/index.php/products/pointcare-now here]\n\nPointCare. (n.d.). The PointCare Now System and Diagnostic Management of HIV Patients in Resource-Poor Settings. Link available [http://www.pointcare.net/docs/pointcare_now_description_paper.pdf here]\n\n== Externally generated reports ==\n\nBloomberg Businessweek. (n.d.). Healthcare Equipment and Supplies: Company Overview of of PointCare Technologies, Inc. Bloomberg.com. Link available [http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=30912096 here]\n\nGill, V. (2009, April 12). Mobile technology battles HIV. BBC News. Link available [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7989856.stm here]\n\nSharma, M. (2009, April 30). PointCare Now machine: Uganda's New Mobile Technology. MercyCorps. Link available [http://www.globalenvision.org/tags/pointcare-now-machine here]\n\n{{Page data\n| sdg = SDG03 Good health and well-being, SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n| language = en\n}}"}