Rapid HIV test kits ensure effective treatment

Early and effective diagnosis of HIV is critical to effective treatment of those infected with HIV/AIDS. Yet globally only one in ten of the estimated 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS has been tested and knows his or her status.

Cheap and reliable HIV rapid test kits have made a significant impact on the ability of programmes in developing countries to effectively diagnose people with HIV. These test kits are simple, instrument-free devices ideal for use in environments such as poor rural areas where laboratory testing would be time-consuming, expensive and labour intensive. Providing same-day results means that hard-to-reach populations can learn their status and immediately begin to receive the attention they need, as health workers can more easily reach remote populations for on-the-spot diagnoses and counselling.

Crown Agents has procured and delivered HIV test kits on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as part of the U.S. Government's fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in resource-constrained countries. Our team has provided CDC's Global AIDS Program with a consistent and reliable system for acquiring and delivering HIV rapid test kits. Crown Agents has acted as the intermediary between the test manufacturers, CDC Atlanta and CDC country offices to establish a seamless process for the purchase, delivery and tracking of the required test kits to meet the critical global needs. During the first year of the contract we delivered to 25 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean on behalf of CDC. Our seamless process for purchasing, delivering and tracking the kits was expanded from the second year onwards to include all USAID projects. Over the five year project period more than 5 million people have been tested for HIV-1 and HIV-2 antibodies with Crown Agents' help.