The fightback against TB and HIV starts right here

Today, Inverness Medical is pleased to announce the launch of its new Clearview TB ELISA at the International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2008) in Mexico City. Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in HIV infected patients, and the unique urine based Clearview TB ELISA LAM antigen test can provide a much needed aid in the diagnosis of TB in TB/HIV co-infected patients.

HIV is driving the TB epidemic in many countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and South America where HIV infection amongst the population is high. Inverness Medical is now able to offer a rapid diagnostic kit using ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) technology capable of aiding the diagnosis of TB in these vulnerable patients where previously existing tests have failed.
Traditional sputum smear tests for TB incur considerable limitations when used as a primary diagnostic test in co-infected HIV-TB patients, with a sensitivity falling to as low as 20% in patients who are also HIV infected¹. Clearview TB ELISA uses antibodies specific to the antigen lipoarabinomannan (LAM) which forms part of the TB cell wall. The elevated levels of the LAM antigen within the urine of TB/HIV co-infected patients provides a specific diagnostic target. When targeting this specific antigen, clinical data shows that in TB-HIV co-infected patients detection rates increase to 80.3%². The use of urine also offers the clinician the advantage of a sample material which is safer and far less invasive than conventional sputum sample collection.

The new, user-friendly, Clearview test screens for the LAM antigen in urine samples in less than 3 hours, significantly faster than bacterial cultures that can take up to 6 weeks to develop¹. By using the LAM ELISA technology, Inverness Medical is leading the way in reducing the prevalence of this preventable and curable disease in areas with a large HIV population through effective early diagnosis.

Inverness Medical will be exhibiting the Clearview TB ELISA kit at AIDS 2008 from 3-8 August 2008. For more information visit stand 211.

1. World Health Organization (2006) Diagnostics for Tuberculosis: global demand & market potential
2. Boehme C et al. Detection of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan with an antigen-capture ELISA in unprocessed urine of Tanzanian patients with suspected tuberculosis.Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 99 (12):893-900, 2005.