SMART Biotech platform solution
The concept of the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV is to enable antibody production, in a small blood sample, within days from infection, without having to wait for the body to produce antibodies weeks or months later. This is done by pushing for antibody production at levels that can be detected by current antibody testing (ELISA). The solution to early detection is the “time machine” inside the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV.
The SMARTube™ HIV&HCV offers the most complete detection of HIV and HCV infected individuals by an innovative, simple and cost effective pretreatment of the blood prior to testing it by the commonly used test kits. The SMART Technology involves the in vitro activation of the HIV and/or HCV primed lymphocytes, pushing them to antibody production even in the phase of active suppression. The result of this activation is higher levels of antibodies already detectable in the serum, and detection of antibodies that were below detection level prior to the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV culture step; all by using currently available diagnostic kits. With in the context of antibodies to HIV&HCV, this blood pretreatment device could enable the positive detection of infection via the relevant antibodies even in infected yet seronegative individuals. This has applications, as a blood pre-treatment device, in earlier and more complete detection of HIV and/or HCV infected Individuals and blood donations.
Part of its innovative breakthrough technology is its simplicity of use, enabling the collection of blood even in mobile remote places, as the blood can be transferred to the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV even a day later, when it reaches the testing lab. Since it is a blood pre-treatment device, once the blood is treated in the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV it can be tested using any HIV or HCV antibody ELISA tests. Therefore the labs do not need to change their way of diagnosing the infection, they only change the way the blood is handled prior to the tests. This makes the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV very simple to use and with a great return for the money, a safer blood supply and better detection of infected individuals.
It is important to note that by using the SMARTube™ HIV&HCV as a blood pre-treatment device, the rate of false positives is reduced.
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