WHO, in collaboration with the Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium recently evaluated the BioSign HIV-1/HIV-2 Whole Blood test.

According to the WHO findings, "the findings of this phase 1 evaluation of BioSign HIV-1/HIV-2 meet the WHO criteria.... The Biosign HIV-1/HIV-2 is a rapid immunochromatographic assay, for the detection of antibodies to HIV in whole blood, serum or plasma," the report added.WHO will publish the data in its official report, to be published shortly.

Before certification, the test has been evaluated by various reputed institutions, including National Institute of Virology, National AIDS Research Institute and National Institute of Communicable Diseases.

Biosign HIV1-2 test is a rapid whole blood test that can be performed anywhere and does not require any instrument and special training. According to the parent company, Premier Medical Corporation, USA, president and CEO Neil Mehta, "the availability of this test will help in containing spread of HIV in the country."