Abbott receives approval for new HIV testing assay

Abbott has been granted CE Mark approval for a new HIV-1 testing device designed for use with its automated m2000 system.

The RealTime HIV-1 Qualitative Assay has been ratified in accordance with European product standards and is now being made available to diagnostic laboratories, as well as to health agencies in countries that are badly affected by the disease.

It utilises dried blood spot and plasma specimens to deliver highly accurate results, which makes it a more convenient method of testing infants for the illness.

Abbott states that the assay will be of particular use to those in remote areas and African nations, as samples can be easily collected and stored at room temperature for long periods.

Kristina Rodnikova, divisional vice-president and general manager of Abbott's molecular diagnostics business in Europe, said: "This test is a welcome advancement in the ongoing effort to detect paediatric HIV infections in Africa."

Earlier this week, the company announced that it is contributing a donation of $3 million (1.84 million pounds) to support relief efforts in Japan following the recent earthquake.