(Alliance News) - Omega Diagnostics Group PLC on Friday said it has received World Health Organisation prequalification for its Visitect CD4 Advanced Disease test for HIV.
Shares in the medical diagnostics company were up 3.0% at 59.75 pence in London in morning trading.
This test is the only handheld lateral flow point-of-care test currently available for identifying patients with advanced HIV who are at risk of possibly life-threatening infections.
Inclusion in the WHO list of prequalified in vitro diagnostics makes the test eligible to participate in procurement processes for UN agencies.
WHO member states are encouraged to use this WHO list of prequalified in vitro diagnostics for procurement decisions.
London-based Omega Diagnostics described this as "a key commercial milestone" following its April supply agreement with Clinton Health Access Initiative Inc which was intended to accelerate access to the test to "low-income countries, lower-middle income countries and upper-middle income countries" as defined by the World Bank.
Chief Executive Colin King said: "We are extremely pleased to receive WHO prequalification on our VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test which has allowed [President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief] and UN agencies to get the test incorporated into their budgets for 2021 meaning the test can reach more people in those countries most in need. This has been an extensive process, and I'm proud of the team delivering on such an important milestone for the group, in such challenging economic conditions."
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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