Fully automated qualitative test for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)
Transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants can often be reduced through effective prevention programs. Unfortunately, some infants do become infected with HIV. Early diagnosis of their HIV-1 status allows children to receive appropriate medical care as quickly as possible. Roche’s dual-target HIV-1 Qualitative assay provides reliable and accurate information on whether the baby is truly infected with HIV or not.
Answering needs with innovative solutions
Infants born to mothers infected with HIV-1 may have maternal antibodies to HIV-1. Antibody tests are ineffective in children because of the mother’s antibodies remain in the child’s system following birth. In fact, antibody tests in infants may yield false positive results for up to 15 months, and the uncertainty surrounding the HIV status of the child has a negative effect on the potential clinical management of the child.1
The use of dried blood spots (DBS) can facilitate PCR testing, and make sample collection easy, even from the smallest infant. By spotting small quantities of blood and collecting it on specially designed collection cards, blood collection and sample transportation is simplified while minimizing stress for the mother and child.