Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

The CD4 Initiative

last updated Jul 9, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Imperial College of Medicine in London
Legal Status: 
Private (unspecified)
Year Launched: 
2005
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
Bottom 20%

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Funders: 
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Technology

Technology Partner(s): 
Zyomyx Inc.; ImmunoSite Technologies LLC
Summary: 

The CD4 Initiative test is a rapid and robust, point-of-care diagnostic to count CD4 T cells in adults living with HIV or AIDS in resource-poor countries. Specifically designed to be used in peripheral health centres, the test will be used to aid diagnosis of HIV or AIDS patients as well as for the initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Program goals/rationale: 

CD4 T cell counts are used to decide when to start antiretroviral therapy. Unfortunately, these blood tests currently require expensive, complex instruments which are unavailable in rural areas of resource-poor countries. Developing a CD4 T cell test that is suited to resource-poor settings such as the instrument-free CD4 point-of-care test would help initiate the necessary HIV/AIDS treatment earlier.

Key program components: 

The CD4 Initiative, along with its partner Zyomyx, Inc, have developed a low-cost, simple to use, POC CD4 test which uses finger prick blood to deliver a quantitative CD4 count in under 10 minutes. The test needs no electronic instrumentation and is suitable for the remote health care settings.

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