Conventional second- and third-generation HIV rapid tests can only detect antibodies against HIV which may not appear until three weeks after infection.1 Alere HIV Combo detects not only these antibodies but can also detect free HIV-1 p24 antigen which can appear up to 7.7 days earlier.1 For global HIV programmes this means the potential to increase case finding particularly in key high risk populations that have been disproportionally affected by HIV.
"WHO's prequalification of the Alere HIV Combo reflects our commitment to making high-quality point-of-care HIV diagnostics available in areas with the greatest burden of HIV infection," said Avi Pelossof, Alere Global President of Infectious Disease. "The first step in eradicating AIDS is identifying as many individuals as possible infected with HIV and linking them to care. Now, even more healthcare workers will be able to accomplish this with a new 4th generation HIV point-of-care test available today."
"We can't meet UNAIDS' 90-90-90 target unless we achieve the first goal of ensuring that people with HIV know their status, and this requires helping healthcare workers in developing countries make every testing opportunity count," said Collins Odhiambo, Ph.D., who evaluated the Alere HIV Combo at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). "The Alere HIV Combo brings point-of-care diagnosis directly to people at greatest risk for infection – including those in remote areas – and makes screenings as impactful as possible by enabling healthcare workers to identify highly infectious individuals, and link them to treatment."