Creating a quick and easy test for early HIV detection

Development of a Disposal Point-of-Care HIV Nucleic Acid Test

NIH-funded research Gate Scientific, INC. · NIH-11172339

This study is working on a quick and affordable home test that lets people check for HIV-1 infection early on, so those at risk, including those taking preventive medication, can easily find out their status without needing to go to a lab.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionGate Scientific, INC. NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Milpitas, United States)
Project IDNIH-11172339 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a low-cost, rapid diagnostic test that allows individuals to self-test for HIV-1 infection during the critical early stages of infection or when there is a risk of viral rebound in those already living with HIV. The test is designed for use at home, enabling untrained individuals to collect their own samples, perform the test, and read the results without needing to send samples to a lab. This approach aims to empower individuals at risk of HIV infection, including those on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), to detect infections as early as possible.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals at risk of HIV infection, such as those taking PrEP, and people living with HIV who need to monitor their viral load.

Not a fit: Patients who are not at risk of HIV infection and those who are not living with HIV may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide patients with a convenient and timely method to detect HIV infections, leading to earlier treatment and better health outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Similar research has shown promise in developing rapid diagnostic tests for other conditions, indicating potential success for this novel approach in HIV testing.

Where this research is happening

Milpitas, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.