German innovation for HIV/AIDS diagnostics used 2.5 million times in 2008

17 December 2008

German biotech company Partec is expanding its global leadership in specialized HIV monitoring and AIDS patient follow-up diagnostics for developing and emerging countries. During 2008, 2.5 million patient tests have been performed with its portable, robust and affordable 'CyFlow' system, already supporting more than 1 million people living with HIV/AIDS.

The Partec innovation has reduced the average cost of 160 per year per patient by a factor 20 to only 8.

The CyFlow instruments are being successfully used in nearly all Sub-Saharan African countries. Furthermore, the technique is being applied in Asia, Latin America, Europe and the US. In December 2008, the thousandth CyFlow device will be placed since introduction at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Barcelona in July 2002.

By precisely measuring the CD4 T-lymphocyte concentration from blood samples, the CyFlow delivers accurate information about the immune status level of HIV/AIDS patients. This test is necessarily required as a basis for antiretroviral therapy targeting to stabilize the immune status which is essential for survival. Approximately, 33 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS. More than 95% of them reside in developing countries, especially in Africa and Asia.

HIV/AIDS project award

On World Aids Day at 1st December, Partec announced a global award competition for NGO projects active in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The award winner will be supported one year free of cost with the required diagnostics from Partec.

Until 31st March 2009, applicants may submit a detailed project description including an explanatory statement why specifically their project should be chosen.

Further information is available online at http://www.partec.com/worldaidsday.

Applications should be directed by email to worldaidsday@partec.com

Technologically, the "CyFlow" is based on the invention of fluorescence-based "flow cytometry" by Professor Wolfgang Gohde from German University of Munster. The worldwide first patent application in flow cytometry was filed almost exactly 40 years ago in December 1968. Since then, the key technology of Gohde has become a standard method for automated blood cell and cancer cell analysis in hospitals worldwide.

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