Rapid at-home HIV self-test using CRISPR
A rapid CRISPR-based self-testing platform for early detection of HIV
A fast, easy CRISPR-based home test to help people detect HIV infection earlier using a small sample.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Gainesville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260206 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is building an automated at-home test that uses engineered CRISPR/Cas enzymes to read HIV RNA quickly and simply. The team uses an ENHANCE modification to boost CRISPR collateral activity so tiny amounts of viral RNA can be detected, and they are developing dried (lyophilized) reagents that stay stable at room temperature. When needed, a simple isothermal amplification step is combined with CRISPR detection to reach very low limits of detection and give results in about 30–50 minutes. The device is intended to be a user-friendly cartridge and reader people could use outside a lab.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People at risk for recent HIV exposure, those who want earlier detection than standard antibody tests, or people who prefer convenient at-home testing would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People on suppressive antiretroviral therapy with very low or undetectable viral RNA, or whose infection is so new that RNA is not yet detectable, may not get reliable results.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let people find HIV earlier than antibody tests, allowing faster treatment and reducing the chance of onward transmission.
How similar studies have performed: CRISPR diagnostics have shown strong results for SARS-CoV-2 and the Jain lab previously detected HIV targets at very low levels in the lab, so parts of this approach have promising prior data though at-home HIV RNA self-tests remain novel.
Where this research is happening
Gainesville, United States
- University of Florida — Gainesville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jain, Piyush K — University of Florida
- Study coordinator: Jain, Piyush K
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.