We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
GLOBE SCIENTIFIC, LLC

Download Mobile App




Paper-Based Device Boosts HIV Test Accuracy from Dried Blood Samples

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 25 Feb 2025

In regions where access to clinics for routine blood tests presents financial and logistical obstacles, HIV patients are increasingly able to collect and send a drop of blood using paper-based devices that absorb and preserve the sample for analysis in distant laboratories. More...

While these devices have been beneficial for monitoring medication adherence and tracking disease progression, many of the most commonly used options do not regulate the amount of blood they collect, which can lead to inaccurate results regarding a patient’s infection. Recognizing this limitation, researchers have developed a new paper-based device with wax-printed patterns that form precise channels and collection spots, ensuring a consistent volume of blood is collected every time.

A team from Tufts University School of Medicine (Medford, MA, USA) collaborated with the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD, Johannesburg, South Africa) to carry out a clinical pilot involving 75 HIV-positive patients in South Africa. The NICD provided valuable real-world data, enabling Tufts researchers to compare their plasma spot cards in a clinical environment where they would be actively used. The plasma spot card developed by Tufts' research team demonstrated a more accurate measurement of a patient’s HIV infection than the widely used Roche plasma spot card (90.5% vs. 82.7%).

Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study also found that the Tufts device was better at detecting drug-resistant viral mutations (63% vs. 42%), which can inform physicians about whether to continue or change a patient's medication regimen. The researchers are now working to expand the use of this technology by forming partnerships with laboratories and researchers both in the U.S. and internationally. They are also refining the device to improve its accuracy and functionality while progressing toward its commercialization.

“We intentionally focus on developing technologies that are simple, both in construction and operation,” said Charlie Mace, an associate professor at Tufts University’s Department. “Those kinds of restrictions can make research more difficult, but ultimately we believe in that approach, because simplicity should lead to accessibility and affordability, which are both clearly needed in health care.”

Related Links:
Tufts University School of Medicine
NICD


Gold Member
Veterinary Hematology Analyzer
Exigo H400
Serological Pipet Controller
PIPETBOY GENIUS
New
STI Test
REALQUALITY RQ-SevenSTI
New
Myocardial Infarction Test
Finecare cTn I/NT-proBNP Rapid Quantitative Test
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The tip optofluidic immunoassay platform enables rapid, multiplexed antibody profiling using only 1 μL of fingertip blood (Photo courtesy of hLife, DOI:10.1016/j.hlife.2025.04.005)

POC Diagnostic Platform Performs Immune Analysis Using One Drop of Fingertip Blood

As new COVID-19 variants continue to emerge and individuals accumulate complex histories of vaccination and infection, there is an urgent need for diagnostic tools that can quickly and accurately assess... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: Microscopy image of invasive breast cancer cells degrading their underlying extracellular matrix (Photo courtesy of University of Turku)

Visualization Tool Illuminates Breast Cancer Cell Migration to Suggest New Treatment Avenues

Patients with breast cancer who progress from ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) face a significantly worse prognosis, as metastatic disease remains incurable.... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The machine learning-based method delivers near-perfect survival estimates for PAC patients (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Method Predicts Overall Survival Rate of Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate adenocarcinoma (PAC) accounts for 99% of prostate cancer diagnoses and is the second most common cancer in men globally after skin cancer. With more than 3.3 million men in the United States diagnosed... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.