Abbott has announced the launch of a new HIV home test, the Panbio HIV Self Test in Hong Kong. The test will be available for over-the-counter purchase at e-commerce platforms, allowing users to obtain results anytime, anywhere in 15-20 minutes.
As per the report, the Panbio test is a newly developed rapid, fingerstick blood test for the detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies, the two types of HIV virus that can develop into AIDS. It can recognize patients as positive 1-14 days earlier than previous second-generation tests from exposure to HIV infection. Several studies have shown blood-based collection for HIV self-testing to be more accurate than oral fluids for rapid diagnostic tests.
Mr. Qiu Jianping, Greater China General Manager of Abbott Rapid Diagnostics said, “During the pandemic, progress against HIV slowed as resources were diverted in many areas. It's now time to escalate the fight against HIV by reaching more people, especially people who are reticent to seek care in professional environments.”
The number of HIV tests conducted in Hong Kong fell by 55.4% in 2020 compared with that in 2019, according to AIDS Concern Hong Kong. This was due to the closure and reduction in operational hours of testing centers due to COVID-19.
The Panbio HIV Self Test is available for purchase at retailers, including HKTVmall and IHEALSMART in Hong Kong starting in November 2022.
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