bioLytical Laboratories: INSTIT HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test to Be Used in Research Study Conducted by McGill University AIDS Centre and Funded by CIHR
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - Nov. 29, 2007 - bioLytical Laboratories is pleased to announce the use of its 60-second rapid HIV test, INSTI(TM), in a research study entitled "Pro-active intervention to limit HIV transmission among MSM populations". The study is being conducted by the McGill University AIDS Centre, directed by Dr. Mark Wainberg and funded by the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).
bioLytical Laboratories will provide 5,000 INSTI(TM)kits to conduct the testing for this study. The study proposes to test individuals who are in vulnerable situations with significant risk of HIV infection. The public health benefits of this type of point-of-care (POC) HIV test delivery can be substantial, based on the potential to identify individuals who are unaware they are HIV infected and the opportunity to deliver effective prevention measures. The study will include visits to commercial bathhouses and other party venues in Montreal, at which transmission of HIV is often likely to occur.
"We hope that the use of this rapid test will enable us to identify newly infected people more quickly and will ultimately lead to the modification of high risk behaviour and therefore reduce the transmission rate of HIV," commented, Dr. Mark Wainberg, Director of Research, Jewish General Hospital and Professor/Director, McGill University AIDS Centre. "Enormous progress has been made in HIV treatment. The use of INSTI is the best method to now make advances in HIV prevention."
The announcement was made earlier today onsite at bioLytical's mobile testing trailer on the Boulevard St. Laurent. The INSTI-trailer is part of biolytical's Test Your Commitment (TYC) public awareness and mobile testing campaign that provides the public with access to live demonstrations of INSTI(TM). TYC offers an open forum to discuss issues regarding HIV and AIDS and provides the public with access to new testing information.
The campaign is presented by bioLytical Laboratories with the support of Virgin Mobile Canada and the endorsement of UNICEF Canada. Together, bioLytical, Virgin Mobile Canada and UNICEF Canada have a shared goal of bringing needed attention to the growing HIV and AIDS crisis at home and abroad.
Ontario was the first provincial government in Canada to launch an HIV testing program and more than 50 of their Anonymous Testing sites now carry INSTI(TM). In September, Manitoba also increased accessibility to HIV testing for its residents.
"Simple, unobstructed access to rapid HIV testing is a critical first step in reducing the spread of HIV," commented Matthew Clayton, Executive Vice President, bioLytical. "TYC is the first of its kind in Canada, offering the public at large the opportunity to see first hand just how quick and easy it is to be tested for HIV. It is our hope this campaign will continue to raise public awareness encouraging other provinces to recognize the importance of expanding their HIV testing programs making it more accessible to everyone."
bioLytical, Virgin Mobile and UNICEF in association with Test Your Commitment will be holding two education days in Toronto, Ontario at Dundas Square, December 6 and 7.
About INSTI(TM) HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test
The INSTI(TM) HIV-1 Rapid Antibody Test is a rapid, in-vitro, qualitative test for the detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in human whole blood, serum or plasma. The test is capable of providing results in 60-seconds and is intended for use as a screening assay by trained personnel in medical facilities, clinical laboratories, emergency care situations, and physicians' offices.
ABOUT BIOLYTICAL LABORATORIES
bioLytical Laboratories (Inc.) is a leading developer and manufacturer of diagnostic tests for global health care markets. bioLytical is a privately owned company with headquarters and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility located in Richmond, British Columbia, with offices in United Kingdom and Uganda, Africa. For more information about bioLytical and INSTI, please visit biolytical.com.
About McGill AIDS Centre
The McGill AIDS Centre coordinates, facilitates and promotes research, treatment and teaching activities relating to HIV infection and AIDS at McGill University and its affiliated hospitals. The Centre's offices are housed in the Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital. Researchers at the LDI were instrumental in identifying the problem of HIV resistance to AZT and also helped to develop the anti-AIDS drug 3TC. They are researching immune responsiveness against HIV and control mechanisms involved in regulation of viral replication, and are involved in new drug discovery programs. Other activities at the McGill AIDS Centre include the cutting-edge clinical trials and studies on psychosocial needs and treatment of persons with HIV, underway at various sites of the McGill University Health Centre. At least 20 different projects in support of AIDS research at McGill are currently funded by a variety of granting agencies, and McGill staff are involved in teaching at each of the undergraduate, graduate and medical resident levels.
About Virgin Mobile
The Virgin Mobile group of companies has attracted more than 10 million customers worldwide. As the #1 mobile youth network, Virgin Mobile Canada's mission is to connect, entertain, and reward like nobody else.
The Virgin Group and Virgin Mobile Canada recognize the many opportunities they have for tackling HIV and AIDS as well as their responsibility to take part in the effort to deal with the epidemic. For this reason, Virgin is committed to the 0% Challenge. The 0% Challenge is Virgin's global staff-wide effort to help ensure that no Virgin employee dies needlessly of AIDS.
Through Virgin Unite, Virgin invests in programs that include prevention, treatment and care and non-discrimination as well as supporting action in the local community. For more information visit www.virginunite.com.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the world's leader for children, working in more than 150 countries and territories to save, protect and enhance the lives of girls and boys. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, promotes quality basic education, protects children from violence, exploitation and AIDS, and is the world's largest provider of insecticide-treated bed nets and vaccines for developing nations. A global leader in emergencies with six decades of on-the-ground experience, UNICEF saves and rebuilds children's lives in natural disasters and conflict. UNICEF is funded entirely by voluntary contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, schools, associations and governments.
About UNICEF International's Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS
Launched in 2006, UNICEF International's Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign is the largest campaign ever mounted to bring the world's attention to the global impact of HIV and AIDS on children and young people and to substantially increase funding for programmes to protect and help affected children. The campaign is an intensification and acceleration of its on-going programs and efforts to get children and youth in the protection and support they need at local, national and international levels.
Time to draw the Line is a monthly giving programme that allows Canadians to become part of an international movement that provides funding and support to UNICEF's Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign.
UNICEF Canada's five-year campaign goal is to raise $25 million from Canadians to fund projects in priority countries in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
www.uniteforchildren.org
http://www.timetodrawtheline.org/ca
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Smith Biotech
Amanda Smith, BSc.
Media contact for bioLytical Laboratories
(778) 846-4116
Email: Amanda@smithbiotech.com
Website: biolytical.com
or
Virgin Mobile Canada
Chris Baines
Media contact for Virgin Mobile Canada
(647) 378-8859 or (416) 607-8412
Email:chris.baines@virginmobile.ca
or
UNICEF Canada
Karen Snider
Media contact for UNICEF
(416) 482-4444 ext.831
Email: ksnider@unicef.ca
"Reproduced with permission - bioLytical Laboratories"
bioLytical Laboratories
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