The fightback against TB and HIV starts right here

Inverness Medical is pleased to announce the launch of its new Clearview TB ELISA at the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) in Mexico City. Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in HIV infected patients, and the unique urine based Clearview TB ELISA LAM antigen test can provide a much needed aid in the diagnosis of TB in TB/HIV co-infected patients.

Traditional sputum smear tests for TB incur considerable limitations when used as a primary diagnostic test in co-infected HIV-TB patients, with a sensitivity falling to as low as 20% in patients who are also HIV infected. Clearview TB ELISA uses antibodies specific to the antigen lipoarabinomannan (LAM) which forms part of the TB cell wall. The elevated levels of the LAM antigen within the urine of TB/HIV co-infected patients provides a specific diagnostic target.

Benefits:

• Clinical data shows that in TB-HIV co-infected patients detection rates increase to 80.3%
• Urine offers the clinician the advantage of a sample material which is safer and far less invasive than conventional sputum sample collection.
• Test screens for the LAM antigen in urine samples in less than 3 hours

By using the LAM ELISA technology, Inverness Medical is leading the way in reducing the prevalence of this preventable and curable disease in areas with a large HIV population through effective early diagnosis.

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