A home test for monitoring HIV viral levels using a fingerprick blood sample
Home Fingerprick Blood-Based HIV Self-Test For Quantitative Monitoring Of Viral Rebound
This study is working on a user-friendly home test that lets people with HIV check their viral load using just a small drop of blood from their finger, so they can easily monitor their health and stay on track with their treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10911376 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a simple and accessible home-based test that allows individuals to monitor their HIV viral load using a fingerprick blood sample. The test aims to empower patients by enabling them to collect their own specimens, perform the test, and interpret the results privately. The project will create a compact USB device that quantitatively detects HIV-1 RNA, helping to identify potential treatment failures. By streamlining the testing process, the research seeks to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and enhance patient outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV who are undergoing antiretroviral therapy and wish to monitor their viral load.
Not a fit: Patients who are not living with HIV or those who are not on antiretroviral therapy may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with a convenient and reliable method to monitor their HIV treatment effectiveness at home.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success with home-based testing methods for various conditions, indicating potential for this novel approach in HIV monitoring.
Where this research is happening
University Park, United States
- Pennsylvania State University, the — University Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guan, Weihua — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Guan, Weihua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.