Nicole Ticea of Vancouver took part of a collaboration program with Simon Fraser University, and while there developed a new test for HIV using Isothermic Nucleic Acid Amplification. A drop of blood is placed on a microchip, which then scans for a specific protein in the viral envelope. The result is a near-instantaneous result from a test that actually scans for the presence of the virus itself, not just antibodies created by the immune system. The best part is that the technology required for this test is already in use and would simply require modifications to scan for HIV. The test still needs to undergo more stringent review to ensure its effectiveness, but a rapid test that would get infected patients analyze and on treatment quicker than ever may be right around the corner.
