A US company, T Cell Sciences, has
developed a cheaper and easier diagnostic test for people infected with
AIDS. Called TFAx CD4, the test
measures levels of critical white
blood cells, known as CD4 cells, that
steadily decline in people with HIV.
Current techniques are not only
expensive, but can only measure
I blood sample at a time, which
must not be more than 2 days old
(Science, Vol 268, No 5215).
The new method, which will
soon hit the US market, can test several blood samples at once, and
allows samples to be stored at room
temperature for 5 days. Each test
will cost only about US $18,
compared to US $50 for the prevalent technique.
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