"Point of Care", the technique to diagnose HIV with two drops of dried blood

MADRID, June 4 (EUROPA PRESS) –

A group of CIBERESP researchers from the Ramon y Cajal Hospital (Madrid), in collaboration with the University Clinic of Navarre, developed an international study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Africa), where it evaluated the molecular technique & Point of Care & # 39; (POC) for the diagnosis of HIV through two drops of infected dried blood.

To conduct this research, published in "Scientific Reports", two drops of dried blood impregnated in a special filter paper and infected with complex recombinants of this virus were used.

"This technique is simpler and faster than conventional molecular techniques and is therefore ideal for countries with limited infrastructure," said África Holguín, a CIBERESP researcher at the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital in Madrid. The highlighting is performed with a small portable device, which allows the test to be performed in the same places as the patient's clinical visit.

For its development, the researchers collected 160 samples of adults and children living in the country, most of whom had been diagnosed with HIV and treated with antiretrovirals. Two techniques, POC and a conventional one were used. Thus, after examining the samples, the "Point of Care" tool revealed that the HIV virus was present in 14 children and 70 adults and diagnosed 8 new undetected cases.

Thus, the results of the study have highlighted the usefulness of this type of tests. In addition, being able to implement and perform the test in the same place of consultation can speed up clinical interventions, which would reduce the loss of patient follow-up due to delayed results.

In addition, although the price per sample is similar, the cost of this machine is lower than that of equipment used in the development of the usual techniques. Thus, the implementation of these techniques can help to improve and speed up the diagnosis of the HIV virus, which will lead to improved clinical follow-up of those affected.

In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that early diagnosis of infants is one of the main priorities, as it would allow early treatment and reduce possible irreversible damage to the nervous system. central and immune.