Routine measurements of HIV Viral Load (VL) and CD4 respectively inform on how much virus is circulating in blood and how damaged the immune system has become2<\/sup>.<\/p>\n HIV Progressionleading to Advanced HIV Disease (AHD)<\/strong><\/p>\n Generally, following HIV infection, as VL increases, CD4 levels decrease and sometimes so much so that these patients are termed as having AHD or as previously classified as having AIDS.<\/p>\n Despite advances in technology, testing and therapies, AHD exists in many populations, especially the further outside of centralised care you go. The World Health Organisation (WHO) define a patient having AHD if their CD4 count is equal to or below 200 cells\/\u00b5L or the patient has a WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 event3<\/sup>. Normal CD4 levels are between 500 to 1500 CD4 cells\/\u00b5L.4<\/sup><\/p>\n How is AHD detected now?<\/strong><\/p>\n In some countries, AHD is detected by visual presence of symptoms like a cough, weight loss or other clinical observations, as routine diagnostic tests for common OIs such as TB and CrAg are not widespread or are only available in centralised hospitals. Therein lies a major problem: what about patients who do not present with symptoms? This is very common. In a recent trial they found nearly 50% of patients with WHO defined AHD (having a CD4 count below 200 cells\/\u00b5L) had no physical symptoms6<\/sup>. They appeared healthy and would have been missed by a healthcare professional. Solid proof that CD4 testing is essential to detect patients with AHD.<\/p>\n How do we test for CD4 right now?<\/strong><\/p>\n Typically, newly diagnosed HIV positive patients have a CD4 count done at their first visit using a laboratory-based instrument. Following that, in low- and middle-income countries, CD4 is not repeated unless they show signs of a weakened immune system. Those patients who should have a CD4 test done sometimes cannot for various reasons, such as test coverage in the country, lack of government funding and existing laboratory-based instruments for CD4 testing not being maintained or having technical issues.<\/p>\n How can VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease help?<\/strong><\/p>\n Omega Diagnostics\u2019 VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease test can support the identification of AHD in PLHIV. It is the worlds\u2019 only instrument-free, rapid, and disposable CD4 test with utility in centralised and decentralised settings for use wherever the patient is. The technology of the test lies within its design; it is a lateral flow device that can be used anywhere, anytime. It is semi-quantitative with the results read by eye by healthcare professionals. VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease is CE marked and WHO Prequalified.<\/p>\n VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease allows healthcare workers to assess patients rapidly (within 40 minutes) from a finger-prick sample of blood and immediately identifies when a patients CD4 count falls below 200 cells\/\u00b5L. Being able to identify which patients have AHD allows healthcare workers to prioritise testing for the presence of OIs before the symptoms may have presented.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease benefits people living with HIV and healthcare providers<\/p>\n Accelerate clinical disease management<\/strong><\/p>\n Faster decisions reducing burden on healthcare workers<\/p>\n Reduce patient loss to follow-up<\/strong><\/p>\n Improve patient retention<\/p>\n Test anywhere, anytime<\/strong><\/p>\n Convenient, disposable and read by eye<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reduce costs<\/strong><\/p>\n Zero investment in equipment, lower costs for patient and sample transport<\/p>\n Improve patient outcomes<\/strong><\/p>\n Patients with advanced HIV disease targeted for OI investigations earlier<\/p>\n With VISITECT\u00ae CD4 Advanced Disease you can identify patients progressing toward AHD.\u00a0 If you would like further information, to ask for a call back or to arrange for a demonstration, please contact:<\/p>\n Diagnotech Support Pvt. Ltd., 250\/50 Bhakta Marg, Baluwatar, Kathmandu<\/p>\n Tel: 977-1-4426391\/4436970<\/p>\n Email: diagnotech3@yahoo.com<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Omega Diagnostics Ltd. Hillfoots Business Village, Alva, FK12 5DQ, Scotland, United Kingdom<\/p>\n Tel: +44 (0)1259 763030<\/p>\n Website: omegadiagnostics.com<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/medicosnext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/2-1.jpg?resize=283%2C170&ssl=1\")
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