Brazil Ready to Use 20-Minute HIV Tests

Brazil will start performing “rapid tests” for the diagnosis of AIDS until the end of this year, affirmed, yesterday, the President of Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Paulo Buss.

The technology used for the production of rapid tests’ kits was imported from a lab in the United States.


The new screening tests produce results in about 20 minutes, which will benefit, mainly, pregnant women. Results through traditional procedures, with the Elisa kit, take about a month to be available.


“This rapid test is important in cases when we are not sure if the patient will come back for the results. Examples are people who travel a lot, such as truck drivers, or sex professionals, who come for the consultation and do not come back. If we are able to quickly detect the virus, we can immediately notify the patient and start treatment,” added Buss.


Also until the end of this year, Fiocruz will produce kits for viral load tests, which measure the amount of HIV virus particles per milliliter (ml) of blood, and inform the patient about the evolution of the disease in his/her organism.


The technology for the production of this kit is totally Brazilian, developed by Fiocruz in partnership with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.


“Currently, each kit for this test is imported for US$ 36-38. With the national production, this cost will be reduced to a third or half of this price,” said Fiocruz’ President.


Paulo Buss made presentations about new technologies in health for entrepreneurs of the Trading Association of Rio de Janeiro.


He emphasized that the Brazilian anti-AIDS program is being able to reduce the advancement of the disease, and that there is perspective to decrease the viral load of the 150 thousand cases currently under treatment in the country.


Fiocruz currently produces eight anti-AIDS medications, and also participates on one of the eight international projects for the development of a vaccine against HIV.


Agência Brasil

Tags:

You May Also Like

In Brazil Today Worse than the Illegality is the Immorality

Exactly fifty years ago last month then-President Jânio Quadros resigned, throwing Brazil into one ...

Cuban-Brazilian Cigar Looking Overseas for Smokers

Menendez Amerino, the largest cigar producer in Brazil, is betting on the Arab market ...

Mafia Kills 7, Burns Buses and Spreads Terror in Brazil. Again!

Once again Brazil’s largest city, São Paulo (10.5 million inhabitants) is at the mercy ...

Rio Number 1 Destination for Foreigners in Southern Hemisphere

A survey issued by consultancy firm Euromonitor International shows that Rio de Janeiro, host ...

Brazil’s Landless Back to Highway Where They Were Massacred 10 Years Ago

On April 17, 1996, a confrontation occurred in Eldorado dos Carajás, in the southern ...

Lula Now

Everything seems to point to Lula as Brazil’s next president. His reformation is such ...

Profits at Brazil’s Petrobras Reach Record US$ 6.9 Billion

During the first nine months of this year, Petrobras – Brazilian Petroleum, S.A. – ...

IMF: Brazil Is Reaping Fruits of Past Policies

This year, 2004, is proving to be a very important year of recovery and ...

Uncontacted Peruvian Indians Flee into Brazil to Escape Loggers

A large group of uncontacted Indians has appeared in a remote village in the ...

Elisete

Elisete, the Brazilian Singing Bird from Israel

Her name is Elisete, she is a singer and songwriter. She was born in ...