HIV - 1/2 Ag/Ab Combo

 

 

About HIV 

 

Determine® HIV-1/2 Ag/Ab Combo

 

There are two main forms of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV): HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 was discovered in 1983 at the Institute Pasteur in Paris and HIV-2 was first discovered amongst patients in Western Africa in 1985.  HIV-2 is less virulent than HIV-1, usually not resulting in full blown AIDS, but nevertheless is still fatal.

By infecting and gradually destroying the immune system, HIV reduces the body’s protection against cancers, pneumonia and other infections that can take hold and lead to death. 

Initially someone living with HIV may not display any symptoms of the infection because their immune system can control it at first, but ultimately drug support will be required.  Anti-HIV drugs can help the immune system and keep the HIV infection under control, but cannot completely rid the body of HIV infection.

 

 

Today, AIDS is among the leading causes of death globally and remains the primary cause of death in Africa.

The global prevalence of HIV infection has levelled off, but the total number of people living with HIV is increasing due to ongoing acquisition of HIV infection combined with longer survival times1.

 

Global disease burden1

 

  • 33.2 million (30.6 – 36.1 million) people estimated to be living with HIV in 2007

  • 2.5 million (1.8 – 4.1 million) people became newly infected in 2007 

  • 2.1 million (1.9 – 2.4 million) people died of AIDS in 2007

 

 

Devastating impact in the developing world1

 

  • An estimated 68% of the people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa
  • Eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa account for almost one-third of all new HIV infections and AIDS deaths globally
  • Since 2001, the number of people living with HIV has doubled in Vietnam and Indonesia has the fastest growing epidemic


 

The effect of complacency in the developed world

The number of people living with HIV in the US, Western and Central Europe has steadily increased in recent years. This is due to advances in treatment, increased number of new HIV cases diagnosed and steady infection rate in the US1,3.

 

  • HIV infection is contributing substantially to the increase in other infectious disease epidemics, such as Tuberculosis, in the developed world2.
  • 30% of people in the UK living with HIV do not know that they have become infected3

 

A significant portion of transmitted cases are by those with acute HIV infection.

 

Identifying those acutely infected and not likely aware of their HIV status is an  important step in reducing global HIV transmission

 

Determine® HIV-1/2 Ag/ Ab Combo provides simple, fast and accurate diagnosis. As a rapid, point-of-care test, it is designed for use in diverse settings, from the physician’s office in the developed world to the most remote environment in the developing world.

 

 

1. AIDS Epidemic Update 2007, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization, November 2007

2. The growing impact of HIV infection on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in England and Wales: 1999-2003; Ahmed, A. B., et al, Thorax 2007 62: 672-676

3. CDC Website:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/factsheets/prevalence.htm

Determine HIV-1/2 Ag/ Ab Combo is currently not available in the US