Rapid clinic test for HIV viral load and drug resistance
V-OLA point-of-care HIV viral load monitoring and drug resistance testing
A quick clinic-based test to measure HIV levels in the blood and tell whether the virus is resistant to ART for people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11359604 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project is creating a point-of-care test that combines viral load measurement with drug resistance detection so clinicians can know sooner whether treatment failure is due to nonadherence or resistant virus. The test is being developed to match a WHO target product profile for use where lab testing is infrequent. Developers will work with blood plasma samples and design the assay to be usable in clinic settings, aiming to shorten the time between a high viral load result and the right clinical action. If successful, the test could be deployed in routine care and in resource-limited clinics to reduce prolonged viremia and transmission of resistant HIV.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who have detectable viral load or suspected treatment failure, especially those in settings with limited lab access, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with consistently undetectable viral load on effective ART or those not treated at participating clinics would not directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could let patients get faster, more accurate answers about treatment failure so they receive the right support or a timely drug change.
How similar studies have performed: Rapid viral load tests exist and have improved care, but combining quick drug-resistance detection at the point of care is relatively new and only early approaches have shown promise.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lutz, Barry Ryan — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Lutz, Barry Ryan
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.