NEW YORK (360Dx) – Hema Diagnostic Systems has reached an exclusive deal for the distribution and sale of its Rapid 1-2-3 Hema HIV Express test in Chile, the company's parent firm, Generex Biotechnology, announced today.
The deal is with Imerlab Sociedad Comercial Limitada. Hema's test has been registered by the Chilean Ministry of Health and approved for sale in the country, Hema said.
The Rapid 1-2-3 Hema HIV Express test is for the point of care. A finger prick of blood is placed on a collection pad, which is then filled with a reagent pod, and based on an immunological reaction, HIV antibodies are determined to be either present or absent. Results are usually available between 15 and 30 minutes, Hema said.
Citing figures from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, the firm said that among Latin American countries, Chile has had the highest rate of new HIV infections among adults since 2010, with the number of new cases being diagnosed rising 34 percent between 2010 and 2016.Â