Home HIV viral load test using a nanosensor chip
Official title: Spatially multiplexed biogel nanosensors with boron-doped diamond microelectrode arrays for HIV self-testing
Funded at Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov · NIH-11321523 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Creating an easy at-home HIV viral load test using nanosensor chips so people living with HIV can monitor their virus levels.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Brookline, United States) |
| Project start | February 23, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $428,930 |
| NIH project number | 5R61AI181017-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321523 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV who can perform a fingerstick blood sample and want regular or at-home viral load monitoring would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who require highly specialized lab testing (like resistance profiling), infants or young children with limited blood volume, or anyone unable to do a self-blood draw may not benefit from this device.
What this research studies
This project is building a tiny chip that reads how much HIV is in a small blood sample you collect at home. It uses a dry-stored hydrogel to hold test reagents and boron-doped diamond microelectrodes to produce a semi-quantitative readout without bulky lab equipment. The design separates plasma from whole blood without lysing white blood cells and aims to keep reagents stable at room temperature. The goal is a simple fingerstick test that a person could use with minimal training.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could let people check viral load at home quickly and affordably, helping them and their clinicians manage treatment and detect problems sooner.
How similar studies have gone: Clinic-based and point-of-care viral load tests are available, but truly self-administered home viral load testing is largely novel and this nanosensor approach has not yet been proven in people.
Where this research is happening
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Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov
Brookline, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcbeth, Christine — Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov
- Study coordinator: Mcbeth, Christine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Home testing technology for HIV viral loads using advanced nanosensors
This study is working on a handy home testing device that lets people with HIV check their viral loads easily, just like how some folks manage their diabetes, so they can keep track of their health without needing a lab.
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.