Abbott hits 20m mark for HIV test donations

Abbott has reached the 20 million mark in donations of free rapid HIV tests to people in developing nations, in association with Direct Relief International and the Abbott Fund.

Diagnostic products have been distributed to HIV testing and counselling programmes serving pregnant women and their families in 43 poorer countries, thus helping global efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Abbott and the Abbott Fund made the commitment to donate 20 million tests to developing regions back in 2002, with more than 150 partner organisations having been involved in the efforts so far.

As a result, at least 150,000 new cases of HIV have been averted among infants in the last ten years.

Katherine Pickus, divisional vice-president of global citizenship and policy at Abbott and vice-president for the Abbott Fund, said: "Helping pregnant mothers to know their HIV status is a critical step in advancing access to treatment and preventing the transmission of HIV to children."

Abbott is currently in the process of separating into two new companies, with its medical device operations to retain the Abbott name, while its pharmaceuticals division will be rebranded AbbVie.