Two-hour test kit hailed as boon to HIV care in Africa (Guardian)
A revolutionary device developed by a team of Cambridge scientists is transforming the diagnosis of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. The machine – known as Samba (simple amplification-based assay) – can tell whether a person is infected with the virus within two hours of them giving a tiny blood sample. Virus carriers can then be offered immediate treatment and advice.
More than 20 million people in sub-Saharan Africa are thought to be carrying HIV, the virus that causes Aids. The chaotic conditions in some parts of this region – with transport, health services and electricity supply often poor or nonexistent – have made it extraordinarily difficult for doctors to keep track of infected individuals.
But the new analyser, the size of a small coffee machine, which was developed by a team led by Cambridge blood scientist Professor Helen Lee, needs no laboratory or trained staff. It can be carried on a motorcycle – often the only method of transport in remote regions – and its reagents can withstand high temperatures and humidity. “Basically, they will still work even if the heat goes above 50C,” said Lee.
In recognition of her team’s achievement in developing Samba, Lee has been named a finalist in the 2016 European inventor awards. Winners will be announced in Lisbon next week.
“The crucial point about our device is that it provides you with a simple signal,” Lee told the Observer. “If two lights are produced, that shows a person has been infected with HIV. If only one light shines, they are not infected. We can show it to a patient and explain to them exactly what the lights mean and what is going on. That is a very powerful way to convince someone of their condition.”
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more: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/may/28/hiv-aids-test-kit-samba-detection-africa
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