In addition to basic diagnosis of HIV status, diagnostic testing plays a critical role in monitoring a patient's condition and determining when drugs should be administered and whether they are working. Accurate measurement of a patient's CD4 count enables clinicians to determine when to initiate antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. BD CD4 testing reagents help to evaluate the effectiveness of and adherence to ARV therapy.
We support a continuum of care through the following efforts:
- CD4 testing
- Preventing the spread of disease
- Health systems strengthening
This series explores how addressing Advanced HIV Disease can help prevent HIV-related deaths.
CD4 count enables clinicians to determine when to initiate antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. BD CD4 testing reagents help evaluate the effectiveness of and adherence to ARV therapy. CD4 cell counts will continue to play an important part in initial decisions around ART initiation and clinical management of opportunistic infection, particularly for patients presenting late to care, and for treatment monitoring where viral load monitoring is restricted. Since 2002, BD has been in a partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) to expand access to CD4 testing in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe and to provide deeply discounted pricing, of up to nearly 75%. In 2014, BD launched the BD FACSPresto™ CD4 instrument, a near-patient, complete CD4 testing solution, designed to improve patient access to CD4 testing. BD and CHAI are continuing their partnership and are now partnering on a CD4 access solution to ensure appropriate instruments are placed at various levels of the healthcare system, enabling governments to efficiently manage changing dynamics in the HIV staging and monitoring market.
Global stakeholders discuss tackling AHD and the critical role of CD4.
Reuse of single-use injection devices is a leading cause of spread of bloodborne infections including HIV. According to WHO estimates, in the year 2000 alone, reused medical devices led to 260,000 new cases of HIV & AIDS. More recently, in 2014, more than 100 people in a small Cambodian village all contracted HIV from visiting the same unlicensed doctor who was reusing needles. In response to these challenges, BD has been instrumental in developing auto-disable devices and reuse prevention devices in collaborations with international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF.
Our BD-PEPFAR Labs For Life and Safer Blood Collection collaborations have helped strengthen the systems and skills necessary to improve diagnostic testing capabilities for HIV & AIDS.
Read more about our Collaborations