Home HIV viral load test using a nanosensor chip
Spatially multiplexed biogel nanosensors with boron-doped diamond microelectrode arrays for HIV self-testing
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 ID | NIH-11321523 on NIH RePORTER |
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.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: 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.
Not a fit: 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.
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 performed: 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
Brookline, United States
- Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov — Brookline, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcbeth, Christine — Fraunhofer Center /manufacturing Innov
- Study coordinator: Mcbeth, Christine
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.