bioMérieux – Making HIV Testing Accessible to All
Diagnostic screening and viral load monitoring tests play a critical role in the early detection and management of HIV infection. These tests make it possible to prevent further transmission and improve patient care through regular follow-up and timely initiation of treatment.
bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, offers innovative diagnostic solutions for HIV management. The company provides one of the widest product offers available to laboratories1 for diagnosing and monitoring HIV infection, and is committed to making innovation in HIV testing accessible to all types of healthcare settings and systems.
HIV/AIDS represents a major and global public health burden. In 2007, a total of 33.2 million people were estimated to be living with HIV, and the number of deaths from AIDS was 2.1 million.2 In the face of this epidemic, prevention and early diagnosis of HIV infection using screening tests are essential to provide the best patient care, and prevent further HIV transmission to uninfected partners and relations. With regular viral load monitoring, patients can benefit from enhanced quality of life through better adapted therapy and rapid detection of resistance to treatment. Diagnostic tests also contribute significantly to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission.
bioMérieux – Driving innovation in HIV testing for 25 years
bioMérieux’s commitment to HIV testing started 25 years ago, at the very beginning of the epidemic. Following the discovery of the HIV virus in 1983, our research teams developed one of the first screening tests available in 1985. Since then, a constant stream of innovative tests and technologies has been developed to respond to new and changing needs in HIV testing.
Today, its unique range of solutions covers 3rd and 4th generation screening tests in a variety of formats (automated immunoanalyzers, microplates for high volumes, rapid manual tests) as well as molecular tests for real-time viral load monitoring. One of the latest advances in viral load monitoring and the most recent development in the bioMérieux range is the Dry Blood Spot. Currently used for research purposes, bioMérieux plans to expand the availability of this simple test to bring viral load monitoring to patients in remote areas.
bioMérieux - Committed to the fight against HIV
In addition to its comprehensive product offer, bioMérieux actively drives the fight against HIV by regularly initiating high-level scientific symposia to further exchange of knowledge on this key public health issue.
At the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City (August 3-8, 2008), bioMérieux is organizing an Integrated Symposium on the theme of “Viral Diagnosis is key in the fight against AIDS”. Keynote speakers from Europe, Latin America and Africa will address issues including the importance of early detection of HIV infection, the relevance of rapid testing for epidemiology studies, the use of Dried Blood Spots for routine viral load testing in remote areas, and the experience of South Africa in routine high-volume viral load testing.
bioMérieux also works in close partnership with an international network of research institutes, biotechnology companies and physicians to further advance progress in the field of HIV diagnostics.
