Portable HIV self-test for earlier detection
A Portable Fluorescence Lateral Flow Device for Self-Testing of HIV
A small paper-strip device that helps adults check for HIV earlier using a single finger-prick blood sample.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11294141 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a paper-based strip that separates plasma from a drop of finger-prick blood and a tiny fluorescent sensor tuned to the p24 protein that appears soon after infection. Special three-dimensional nano-structures boost the fluorescent signal so the test can find much smaller amounts of p24 than current point-of-care kits. The team will combine the sensor and plasma-separation unit into a single paper microfluidic strip and measure how low a level of p24 it can detect as well as the test's sensitivity and selectivity. They will also try the strip with clinical patient blood samples to see how it performs in real-world conditions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults at risk of HIV exposure or people seeking earlier diagnosis who can provide a finger-prick blood sample are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who already have a confirmed HIV diagnosis, are under age 21, or cannot provide a finger-prick blood sample may not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people detect HIV much earlier with a quick finger-prick self-test, enabling earlier treatment and reducing the chance of onward transmission.
How similar studies have performed: Home lateral-flow antibody tests are common, but detecting the early p24 antigen using a plasmon-enhanced fluorescent paper strip is a newer approach with limited commercial precedent.
Where this research is happening
Hadley, United States
- University of Massachusetts Amherst — Hadley, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wu, Nianqiang — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Wu, Nianqiang
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.