Staying A Step Ahead of HIV Through Science

Products and Innovation|Apr. 07, 2017

Acute HIV often goes undetected. In fact, between 5,000 to 75,000 patients are misdiagnosed annually.1 This doesn't have to be the case. Early detection provides vital information that can lead to treatment and prevention of additional infections.

Getting results sooner rather than later can make a huge difference in living a healthy lifestyle, which is why we are dedicated to developing the diagnostic tools to inform critical patient decisions. The tools ensure reliable broad HIV subtype detection, identify infected patients and help doctors plan a treatment regimen for individuals who otherwise might unknowingly spread the disease due to lack of awareness of infection. These tests can simultaneously detect both HIV antigens and antibodies — up to 20 days earlier than traditional antibody-only tests. About one in seven infected people2 are unaware of their infection and continue to spread the disease. Now, knowing sooner can prevent future cases.

HIV's rapidly evolving nature makes detection a constant challenge for the lab. We are working to meet this challenge through a commitment to science that stays a step ahead.

Quick Facts1,2

  • Acute HIV, a highly infectious stage of the disease, can last greater than 10 weeks.
  • Between 5,000 to 75,000 patients are misdiagnosed annually.
  • One in seven people with HIV do not know they are infected.
  • There were nearly 40,000 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. in 2016.
  • Even if physicians do test, traditional HIV diagnostic tests may not detect acute HIV.
  • Early detection leads to very manageable treatment options.

1 Schacker et al. Clinical Epidemiologic Features of Primary HIV Infection. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 125:257-264
2 HIV in the United States: At a Glance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/statistics/overview/cdc-hiv-us-ataglance.pdf. Accessed on 12/12/2017.

Information provided is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.